Thieves target Regina Legion’s poppy campaign

Thieves have hit the poppy campaign operated by Regina’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch #001.

Ron Hitchcock, the president of the branch, said on Wednesday’s Greg Morgan Morning Show that people made off with poppy boxes from a number of locations around the city.

“We estimate somewhere around 10 boxes, taken from hotels, from (Tim Hortons outlets), (from) grocery stores and various places,” Hitchcock said. “(The perpetrators) just up and ran off with them.

“The worst thing is a few were stolen right on Remembrance Day, when everyone was at the service.”

Hitchcock said the Legion hadn’t heard from police about the status of the investigation.

He didn’t know how much money had been taken in the thefts, saying it depended on the location.

“Some boxes, we can get $500 in them and some we can get $100,” Hitchcock said.

The money raised by the annual campaign is used by the Legion to support veterans and their families.

According to the Legion, funds can be used for food, clothing, housing, medication and medical equipment for veterans, as well as for educational bursaries for the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of veterans.

Losing any boxes to thieves, then, is an issue for an organization that relies on donations.

“It has been said that we sell poppies,” Hitchcock said. “Well, the poppy is a symbol of the sacrifice of those who provided us with our freedom. What you’re doing is donating to helping them for their health and welfare and the programs that the Legion runs.

“We have three weeks during the year that we do this and then that money carries us through the year to help veterans — and that isn’t enough.”

Donations to the poppy fund still can be made online, both locally and nationally.

“You can donate and that money will go directly to the poppy fund,” Hitchcock said. “That’ll replace what was missing.”