Tomorrow morning, Thorold Legion Branch 17 kicks off its annual Poppy Campaign.
“The Poppy Campaign is basically done locally by each Legion branch,” explains Thorold Legion 1st Vice-President Glenn Kempson. “All the donations that we collect are held in a trust at each branch. The funds are directly used to help veterans and their families in each community.”
Last year, the Thorold Legion put out a total of 160 boxes and managed to raise $17,000 for veterans.
“The poppy donation boxes should be at almost every business in Thorold,” says Kempson. “We also have a couple of the newer tap boxes where you can just tap your credit card. People also donate to purchase the reefs that we lay at the cenotaph on Remembrance Day.”
Just like in previous years, Thorold Legion Branch members Ken and Jeannie Smalko will also be helping out.
“It's the only fundraiser we do for the actual Poppy Fund,” Ken Smalko tells ThoroldToday. “Every single dime we get goes straight to veterans.”
This year, the Thorold Legion has teamed up with the Thorold BIA, in an effort to raise more money than ever.
“It's a little more awareness for the businesses when we're coming out,” says Ken Smalko. “A letter has gone out to the BIA and I think that all the businesses are going to get it. And it's a little blurb on where all the poppy money goes to and whatnot.”
“We’re also looking for volunteers to do the poppying,” adds Jeannie Smalko. “We don’t have a lot of people that can do it. This way we're looking for help through the BIA.”
Volunteers will be out in the community in the next two weeks to collect donations at big box stores such as Foodland on Pine St.
“Thorold is absolutely amazing,” says Ken Smalko. “It’s absolutely incredible how generous people in Thorold are.”
“It is a giving community,” adds Jeannie Smalko. “It's a city, but it's a small knit community so everybody knows everybody. I know when Ken does the poppying at the Foodland all the older ladies love him. They make sure to come to see him. They look forward to that.”
For Legion members and volunteers, it’s all about giving back to those that served their country.
“They went and fought in the wars and protected our country,” says Kempson. “Some didn't come back, but the ones that came back, we basically have an obligation to take care of them.”
The Poppy Campaign runs from October 25 until November 11. Donation boxes can be found at local businesses all through Thorold.
On Monday, November 11, a Remembrance Day ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. at Memorial Park.
