Connecting through collecting: North Vancouver legion gets creative to raise funds

With 2021 marking the 100th year of the poppy, the Lynn Valley Legion is coming up with creative ways to raise $100,000 ahead of Remembrance Day.

The organization is using kettles and card-tapping machines after it saw success with the Salvation Army’s kettles last year.

The legion hopes giving people more ways to donate will encourage them to make contributions to the cause. They might be drawn in by the desire to connect with the collector and talk face-to-face before donating.

Call it thinking outside the box. @RiaRenouf is speaking with members of Lynn Valley Legion 114, as they use innovative ways to collect cash and keep connecting with the community. https://t.co/rtNvGbPNWd pic.twitter.com/bAV5R7v3mZ

— CityNews Vancouver (@CityNewsVAN) November 5, 2021

Those discussions are important, says Cpl. James Rodger, a veteran who has seen growing interest in Remembrance Day tributes and ceremonies over the past couple of years.

“What I’ve noticed, mostly at the cenotaphs, is how many more people are attending. If you go to the one in Lonsdale, unless you’re there early, and you’re a little shorter guy, you can only hear what’s happening,” he said.

Lynn Valley Legion President Diana Saboe agrees using kettles has been successful so far.

“We are finding that people are really liking the communication. They like to see someone in a uniform or Youth Cadets, Guides, Scouts, etc., whoever is coming to help us raise funds, they like to see that everyone in the community is helping to support our campaign,” she said.

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The funds don’t just go to veterans, but to other community members as well, says Lynn Valley Legion VP Keith Willett.

“We’ve made generous donations to the Lions Gate Hospital, to George Derby – the military hospital, Brock Fahrni – another military hospital, and we donate towards the K-9 dog group every year, and for transition, also for people suffering from PTSD,” he said.

“Keith is also proud of the fact of all the bursaries that we give out every year to dependents of veterans. It’s a very private procedure, but I know his committee is very honored to meet these young people who are working hard; hear their story, and hopefully, be granted a bursary through the poppy fund,” added Saboe.

Their shared goal is to bring people together from all walks of life to help each other out — while still remembering the sacrifices made in the past.

“As long as we have Legions, self-sufficient and still running and that, we won’t let the public forget. Lest we forget,” said Rodger.