The Canadian Legion hopes eased pandemic restrictions means more money in their poppy fund this year.

Poppy Fund Chairman at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 38 in Liverpool Louis Landry says their fundraising efforts were hamstrung in 2020 when volunteers were not permitted to solicit donations in person.

“Last year we were kind of handcuffed because of COVID,” said Landry. “[We] couldn’t actually go out and raise any monies, other than to deposit the poppy boxes in local businesses.

He estimates about $10,000 was raised during that campaign, roughly half the amount they would normally take in.

Landry says that $10,000 went to good use over the past year as the Legion bought a TV for Hillsview Acres, wheelchairs for the hospital and gave money to the food bank to provide meals for veterans and their families.

Landry is optimistic the return to in-person poppy donations will see an increase in giving.

In fact, he has already seen the difference.

“Myself and a friend were at the Superstore on the opening day, that was Wednesday, for three hours and we probably raked in close to $500.”

Landry is also hoping the easing of restrictions will also mean a greater turnout at cenotaph services this Remembrance Day.

The public is once again invited to attend services this year after they were closed to everyone but officials and participants in 2020.

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