Editor, The Times:
The Royal Canadian Legion's annual Poppy Campaign is one of the most important functions of our organization – locally, provincially and nationally. The collection and use of these funds enable The Royal Canadian Legion to give incredible assistance to those who need it in the communities we serve from The Poppy Funds raised in those areas.
So imagine the dismay of a local Poppy Campaign chairman who was informed for the second year in a row by a local business, "No thanks. The placing of a poppy tray here does nothing for my business."
By way of information for this local business owner, although you may have the opinion it does nothing for your business, the following are a few examples of what our Poppy Funds do for society:
In the 2012-2013 Poppy year funds totalling $3,070,160.12 were donated to support: medical training/research/equipment, assisted living and low income housing, Meals on Wheels, maintenance of community monuments, hot meals for veterans, youth programs, Cadet Corps, lifting devices for disabled people, Veterans Transition and trauma counselling services and much much more.
Not included in the aforesaid figure are the donations made by local Branches of the Royal Canadian Legion for assistance to local veterans, their widows, student bursaries, local youth groups, equipment for special needs children etc.
In conclusion – although a poppy tray does not increase anyone's gross profit margin it does increase the quality of life of our veterans of yesterday and today, their families, our seniors, our young people wanting to further their education, better hospital equipment – the list is virtually endless.
Therefore the Royal Canadian Legion respectfully requests that you say yes when you are approached by a Poppy Campaign volunteer and are asked if they may leave a Poppy tray instead of saying, "No thanks. It does nothing for my business."
Charlotte Cederholm
Zone Commander
Nicola Thompson Zone
The Royal Canadian Legion