Canadian Legion Poppy Campaign Goes Live on Amazon

“We’re always kind of contemplating how best to reach more Canadians and to also make it easier for them to be part of this whole remembrance period,” Legion communications manager Nujma Bond told The Epoch Times.
“They are able to donate $2, $5, $10, or $20, and they can receive lapel poppies delivered right through their door.”
Bond said the poppy campaign usually ships out 20 million poppies each year. The Legion has already reached 10 million through Amazon.
“It’s really taking off. We think that as more and more people recognize that it’s an option that they have, we will see those numbers grow this year and into next year.”
Other items available at the Legion’s Amazon store include pins and red neon poppy signs that can be displayed in a window.
The poppy campaign is a major annual fundraiser for the Royal Canadian Legion and is “instrumental” in helping veterans and their families across Canada, Bond said.
The donations are used for local Legion programs such as making service officers available at branches to help veterans who are looking for assistance.
“It could be that they need to be connected with resources in their communities,“ Bond said. ”It could be that they need some help to fill out the forms that are required in order to receive benefits from Veterans Affairs Canada.“ The availability of the service officers ”really helps to reduce stress in many ways for Canada’s veterans,” she said.
The funds also help veterans who need emergency help, like food or housing.
The Legion’s “Operation Leave the Streets Behind” program sends community members out to find veterans who may be homeless or facing homelessness, “and try to get them the resources that they require and get them the help that they need,” Bond said.
“Poppy Stories” offers Canadians the opportunity to hear more about veterans, just by scanning a QR code.
This year, in honour of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force, the first five stories are about Air Force veterans.
“It’s really a way for people to remember veterans and also learn a little bit more about their personal stories and their passions,” Bond said. “It’s a way to connect more deeply with our Canadian veterans.”
All donations stay at the local level, and all funds raised through the Amazon initiative go back to the Legion, Bond said.