Richmond poppy fund helps veterans and Richmond Hospital

With Remembrance Day approaching, the Richmond Poppy Fund campaign is underway. While now is the time to make a donation and purchase a poppy, the fund helps veterans all year round.

“I see the veterans and the hardships they go through,” says Carol O’Dell, chairperson of the Richmond Poppy Fund, whose campaign is under way. “We go that extra mile to make sure they get what they need.”

The poppy is an emblem throughout the Commonwealth that commemorates Remembrance Day and honours members of the armed forces who have fallen in the line of duty. Each year, the Richmond Poppy Fund fundraising drive takes place with assistance from the Army, Navy and Air Force Cadets between the latter part of October and November 11, Remembrance Day.

In Richmond, the Royal Canadian Legion (Bridgeport) Branch 291 and the Army, Navy and Air Force Unit 284 (Steveston) jointly operate the Richmond Poppy Fund. About 20 hard-working volunteers make it happen. The fund helps veterans as well as those in active service who may be injured and need extra help.

As one of Richmond Hospital Foundation’s longstanding donors, the Richmond Poppy Fund has benefited the many veterans, other patients and their families by helping to purchase urgently needed medical equipment. For example, the Poppy Fund has recently helped to fund a new surgical microscope for ear, nose and throat surgeons at Richmond Hospital.

“I know at any given time there are likely 20 veterans in the hospital. They live in this community—Richmond Hospital is their hospital,” says O’Dell.

The annual Poppy Fund drive is now underway. Poppies are available for sale at approximately 200 locations across Richmond, including all major malls, bars, restaurants, liquor stores, as well as at the Legion at 11131 Bridgeport Rd., and the Patient Information Desk at Richmond Hospital.

“We look forward to a successful campaign,” O’Dell says. “Please give as much as you can because this goes to help another individual who doesn’t have the funds. If everybody donates, then we can do our work. That's so important.  Please be generous and remember this could be your uncle, your grandfather, your grandmother. Without the money coming in, we can’t help them. We never ever want to have to turn a veteran away from getting help.”

“Without these veterans serving our country, who knows what this country would be like today. They fought for our freedom--let's give them the respect and the help that they need.”