With COVID-19 concerns and precautions limiting volunteers and more people following guidance to stay home, London Drugs is launching a new campaign to help the Royal Canadian Legion with donations to its annual National Poppy Campaign.
While poppy boxes will still appear at London Drugs locations - as they do every year - the retailer is hoping to help raise additional funds for veterans through a new campaign in partnership with Carlton Cards.
BE KIND invites Canadians to send handwritten cards to friends, families, and neighbours, to show appreciation and brighten their day.
“This fund is critical to the work we do across the country to help our Veterans and we are thankful for the additional support this year,” said Thomas D. Irvine, CD, Dominion President of the legion.
The BE KIND campaign will see a portion of sales from all Carlton or Papyrus Greeting Cards between Nov. 1 and 11 going directly to the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Trust Fund.
Customers can visit any London Drugs store and pick out cards to give.
“Now more than ever, people need to be reminded they are not alone,” said Clint Mahlman, London Drugs’ president and CEO.
“Whether that is sending love to a friend or family member or showing your appreciation to a veteran whom you’ve never met, sending a personalized written message can be so meaningful – particularly at a time when social distancing has left many feeling isolated.”
For the first time ever, the legion is discouraging spectators from attending Remembrance Day ceremonies in person in order to limit gathering sizes and adhere to physical distancing measures.
Donations made during the National Poppy Campaign go directly into the Legion’s Poppy Trust Fund. The funds raised locally are used locally to help with a range of supports and services for Veterans and their families.
It can include emergency funding, helping Veterans get off the streets, completing benefit applications or establishing and supporting programs to help tackle operational stress injuries.
For more information, go to Legion.ca.
