The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 24 Cranbrook donated $25,000, raised from its 2024 Poppy Campaign, to several community groups, in a presentation held Friday, March 14.
Funds were presented to:
• Egress Veterans Society — to help with their work of veterans helping veterans;
• Angel Flight East Kootenay, a volunteer charity which provides free air transportation to EK residents to medical appointments in Kelowna;
• The Cranbrook Food Bank;
• The Women’s Resource Centre;
• The Cranbrook Army Cadets and Air Cadets, to assist in their continued training;
• The East Kootenay Foundation for Health, to help with upgrades to the renal and oncology unit at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital.
“Each year from our gaming fund, we donate more than $20,000 to charitable organizations in Cranbrook and Kimberley who need our assistance,” said the Legion’s Tammy Richert. “All monies raised from the Meat Draw, 50/50, and Texas Hold ‘Em are donated.
“Our branch does not keep any of that money. All funds we raise stay within our community. Not only do our donations benefit veterans and their families, but the community as a whole.”
The Legion is still in the process of handing out the Poster and Literary prizes for 2024.
Last year, the Legion donated $32,000 from the 2023 Poppy campaign, to Egress, Angel Flight, the Cadets, and the EKFH for the palliative care unit. It also awarded $600 in prize money to the poster and literary contest winners in Cranbrook, Kimberley and Jaffray.
Each year, the Cranbrook Legion orders 25,000 new poppies, as well as wreaths that have become damaged or worn.
The Legion supports Cranbrook, Kimberley and Jaffray each year, with poppies and wreathes around the time of Remembrance Day.
You do not have to be a veteran or family member with a veteran to join the Legion.
