Ron Adair, president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 80 in Midland, is calling on the community for help. – Andrew Mendler/Torstar
The Royal Canadian Legion in Midland needs your help.
The legion, which has fallen on hard times before, has survived the COVID-19 shutdown and is determined to continue providing supports and services for the community. However, it can’t do it alone.
On Sept. 18, the legion launched a new campaign dubbed “Your legion needs you.”
“This is a ‘call to arms’ of sorts. It evokes the spirit of the First World War, when over 650,000 Canadian men and woman served,” said Dan Travers, public relations officer at Branch 80 in Midland. “(We are) letting our community know we again need your help.”
Travers has created a poster with Branch president Ron Adair depicted as Lord Kitchener, one of the most iconic images from the First World War.
“As we work together to fight the effects of COVID-19, we encourage Midland residents to get out and stay involved — safely. Your legion needs you … to help in your community.”
Legion officials are encouraging residents to renew their memberships or consider becoming a member. They are also asking for volunteers to help assist with programs, services and major fundraising campaigns, such as the poppy drive.
Every year, the legion raises between $50,000 and $60,000 through various campaigns. All of the money goes toward supporting veterans, sea cadets and local service organizations, and also funds annual ceremonies.
Over the past four years, Branch 80 has relied heavily on the community to help dig it out of massive debt and replace the building’s 58-year-old failing roof.
The Raise the Roof campaign successfully wrapped up in August. With the help of the community — most notably a $10,000 donation from Raytheon ELCAN — the legion was able to raise the $80,000 it needed to replace the roof and repair minor damage caused to the interior of the building.
“On behalf of our over 475 members, we would like to wholeheartedly thank everyone who donated their time and money, attended a fundraising event, and helped spread the word about our campaign,” said Adair. “We are immensely grateful for the continued support we received from our community.”
This article first appeared on the Pure Country 106 website on November 9, 2020