Every fall, you drop a few coins in a box, pin a poppy to your coat, and carry on with your day. It’s a small gesture, but it adds up. Where does the money go once it leaves your pocket?
It’s held in trust, not in a Legion’s bank account
Poppy donations don’t pay for a branch’s bar, building repairs, or general operating costs. After the cost of poppies, wreaths and other supplies is deducted, what remains is placed in trust for purposes authorized in the Legion’s General By-laws. The money sits in a bank account separate from the branch’s general funds and can’t be used for anything beyond those stipulated purposes.
The funds are also meant to be spent. They are public funds held in trust, and normally at least 90 per cent of what’s collected each year should be spent before the next campaign. A branch that misuses the money can be required to repay the full amount from its general fund.
Who it helps
The core purpose is helping people in need. The Legion uses poppy funds to provide financial assistance and support to Veterans, including Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP members, and their families who are in need. You don’t have to be a Legion member to get help. Any ex-service personnel or their dependent can apply for financial aid from the Poppy Trust Funds.
Beyond direct assistance, the Legion’s list of approved uses includes:
- Comforts for veterans in hospital
- Medical appliances
- Medical research and training
- Help navigating benefits through the Legion’s Service Bureau
- Remembrance activities, so Canadians never forget the sacrifices of Veterans
Many branches also put money toward youth and community programs. In Prince Edward Island, for example, each branch holds its campaign funds in trust and uses them, with permission from the provincial command, on projects that support veterans and youth. New Brunswick branches work the same way, with the funds staying close to home.
What this looks like in your community
Because the campaign is run by local volunteers, the money generally stays local. It might cover emergency help for a veteran with a heating bill, a medical device for a veteran who needs one, a visit and a gift for someone in a care home, or support for remembrance programs in schools. Funds a branch hasn’t spent by the end of the campaign year may be collected by the provincial command for provincial projects supporting those same purposes.
You can ask to see it
Every branch is accountable for its poppy fund. You can contact your local Legion branch to request information on its Poppy Campaign. Most branches are glad to talk about how the money was used.
Giving it your best shot
If you want your money to go to veterans, give through the official campaign. The Legion has been cracking down on unauthorized poppy products sold on sites like Amazon, noting that funds raised through the official poppy image go directly to supporting veterans. Look for volunteers at your local grocery store or Legion branch.
This year, when you drop your change in the box, you can be confident it’s going to veterans and their families, and to remembering those who served. Lest we forget.
