With Remembrance Day just two weeks out, the national poppy campaign is now underway. 

Bill Richards is the Poppy Chair for the Steinbach Legion. He notes they began deliveries at 9:30 Friday morning. 

“We have our volunteers here at our office at Pat Porter Active Living Center and from there, we distribute poppies to Steinbach and most of the Southeast. This year we have a number of new volunteers that are willing to assist us in this process because it's a big area we have to cover. We're looking forward to that.” 

Richards says over 16,000 poppies have been ordered for Steinbach and the surrounding areas. He notes they will be delivering approximately 30 poppy boxes to Steinbach businesses and another 60 to business in surrounding communities. They’ll even be sending some to Costa Rica. 

“I just actually had requests for poppies, which I am sending, to Costa Rica for Canadians who are lucky enough to spend the time in Costa Rica and they're having a little Remembrance Day service down there, which is interesting, something I didn't expect.” 

In the past, finding enough volunteers has been a challenge, but Richards says that wasn’t a big issue this year. 

“I didn't have to go out and look for volunteers, they approached us. I think part of the reason for that is that Pat Porter is now our home base and people come in and they see our literature and they say, 'Oh can we help?' So, that's been very beneficial as well, I think, with the world and the way it's been going lately, people want to be involved in some way to contribute with all the strife and tensions going on.” 

This has also led to a surge in membership at the Steinbach Legion. 

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Over the next few weeks, Richards encourages residents to make a donation and pick up a poppy. He notes all of the funds collected will go to great causes. 

“This year, as you know, we've already donated several thousands of dollars to Pat Porter Active Living Center, the transit to part of their programming. We've also committed $1,500 to PTSD, we also contributed $2,000 to STARS and once we collect all the donations for this year, we have a list of several potential organizations that support veterans and their families that we've earmarked for a donation.” 

Richards also thanks the 307 Stonybrook Air Cadet Squadron Scouts and Guides of Steinbach who will be selling poppies in the Clearspring Centre over the next two weeks. 

He also reminds residents that this year's Remembrance Day service in Steinbach will begin at 10:30 AM Saturday, November 11th at the Pat Porter Active Living Centre. 

 

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