The 2019 poppy campaign is officially underway.
The campaign began Oct. 25 and Royal Canadian Legion, Maple Ridge Branch #88 president Jim MacDonald says they are always looking for taggers.
“We never have enough,” said MacDonald.
“We’ll be well covered but we could always use more,” he said, adding that if they had an extra 20 or 30 volunteers out tagging it would be wonderful.
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MacDonald said the last two years the legion has seen a record number of donations.
More than $72,000 was raised each year, he said, and last year more than 40,000 poppies were distributed as part of the campaign.
MacDonald believes the record donations are the result of a change in attitude, especially after Corporal Nathan Cirillo was shot and killed as he was standing guard at the Canadian National War Memorial in Ottawa in 2014.
RELATED: Poppy taggers desperately needed in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows
He has also noticed that the crowd has grown over the years for the cenotaph service in Maple Ridge as well as in Pitt Meadows.
All of the money raised goes to help veterans and their dependents in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
They are assisted with purchasing wheelchairs, able walkers, canes, crutches, scooters, bath aids and other medical items.
To register as a volunteer tagger go to the legion office at 12101 224 Street in Maple Ridge or call 604-463-5101.
cflanagan@mapleridgenews.com
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