From left, volunteers Annette Lozzo, Eldon Wells and Sandy Morrice man the poppy booth at Walmart during the annual campaign in 2020.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
The annual poppy campaign, which kicks off in Medicine Hat on Friday, will have a modern twist as the Royal Canadian Legion celebrates 100 years since the poppy was adopted as the symbol of Remembrance Day.
Donors will be able to tap credit and debit cards at booths at three shopping centres, Medicine Hat College and the No. 17 Robertson Memorial Legion branch and its pub.
Branch president Sheila Donner says the technology is being supplied by HSBC Canada, and makes it more convenient for donations.
That was one of the lessons of the 2020 poppy campaign, held last autumn, when business activity at stores was severely curtailed in a growing second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
Donations to boxes located at store tills were steady however, said Donner, as were the number of volunteers who managed their routes while wearing personal protective equipment.
“What really helped was larger donations,” said Donner, and those dropped off or otherwise pledged apart from donation boxes.
“Hatters are very generous and very appreciative of the sacrifices made by veterans in years past and through to today.”
The “tap” donation should help those who do not carry cash make a contribution, she said.
Booths will also be located at the Medicine Hat Mall, Canadian Tire and Walmart, with volunteers on site to aid with tap transactions.
Poppies are provided free of charge, but with the suggestion of a pay-what-you can donation to the Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Fund.
That fund provides money and housing directly to veterans in need as well as scholarships for veterans and their relatives, pays for assistance programs, disaster relief in some cases and awareness campaigns related to Remembrance Day.
Plans for the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at Riverside Veterans Memorial Park will be announced later this week, said Donner.
