The cash you drop into a poppy box this Remembrance Day season will lead to veterans getting help in a number of ways.
Barry’s Bay Legion President Heather Poliquin says a program that helps those with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder access service dogs and a program that helps get homeless veterans off the streets are among programs on a list that poppy proceeds can be spent on.
She says it’s nice to see different creative ways to support veterans, especially given that there are now few surviving Second World War or Korean veterans in the area.
She says the poppy campaign has evolved to support Canadian Forces veterans of all generations. It’s about funding programs for them, that aren’t covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, or other benefits.
“We have a Veteran Service Officer and he’s very proactive about getting out there and meeting veterans and letting them know what their benefits are,” she says.
“He’ll come back to us and say, ‘I’ve met with a veteran, he needs this.’ It could be something as simple as Lifelines (a medical alert system program), to make them feel more comfortable because they’re living at home on their own. It can be somebody to come in and shovel their snow.”
The Barry’s Bay Legion’s Poppy campaign will begin on October 27. Look for boxes at businesses and schools.