The poppy is a ubiquitous accessory in November.
Finding a politician, broadcaster, or community leader without a poppy on their coat is a virtual impossibility.
Poppies will be seen in schools and offices and stores from now until Remembrance Day on Nov. 11.
All those poppies come from the volunteers, many of them Royal Canadian Legion members, who put in their time in front of stores and shopping malls.
This year, the Langley Poppy Fund campaign is in serious difficulty.
A major shortage of volunteers means that you’ll see fewer boxes of poppies on store checkout counters, and fewer volunteers with trays of the red plastic flowers.
It means fewer loonies and twoonies in the donation bins. It means less money for local veterans.
The campaign money is used for items large and small. It helps buy cancer drugs to help elderly veterans on fixed incomes.
It will go towards slings that help lift residents at the Langley Lodge. It even helps seniors living on their own buy new appliances when they suffer a sudden breakdown.
Last year, the Langley Poppy Campaign raised almost $89,000 from the generosity of local residents, and helped numerous local veterans, of all ages.
This year, the local Poppy Fund Campaign is asking for Langley residents to be generous with their time as well as their wallets.
The time spent helping will be brief, but the impact of that service to the Poppy Campaign and the local Legion branch will be felt in this community throughout the year.
To volunteer, contact the Langley Legion at 604-534-3619 or 3615.
– M.C.