COVID-19 has brought many changes to businesses, charities and non-profit organizations, and Royal Canadian Legion branches are trying their best to keep up with those changes, with varying results.
In the Central Okanagan alone, the 麻豆精选 and Peachland branches have dealt with the pandemic as best they can.
President of the Legion鈥檚 Peachland branch Jean Saul said they鈥檝e had to be creative and raise funds in ways they never did before.
鈥淭he government came out with programs where organizations could apply鈥� we were one of the luck branches that received the CEBA (Canada Emergency Business Account). It could鈥檝e gone the other way, where we applied and got rejected so we鈥檙e grateful for that,鈥� she said
鈥淭hat was a huge help. But we鈥檝e had to think of different ways to raise money because it鈥檚 just not coming in the normal way. So in July, we had a bottle drive at the Peachland IGA and we had another one on Sept. 12. We鈥檝e also started designing and selling T-shirts.鈥�
READ: Keremeos Legion victim of vulgar graffiti
Saul added she鈥檚 grateful that despite the hardship everyone is experiencing, community members have been responsive to them and have helped them any way they can.
The 麻豆精选 branch, on the other hand, tried another way: surviving on their own as much as possible. Branch president John Sokolowski said they wanted to give other organizations a chance to apply for government assistance programs. He added since figures looked manageable in their books, they felt confident they will be able to make it through.
鈥淥ur balance sheets have been strong historically, and this year, we鈥檝e not taken any advantage of the government programs they鈥檝e offered, because the balance sheet has been strong so we relied on that,鈥� he said.
鈥淏ut that said, I don鈥檛 know that if COVID lasts another year, whether we can weather the storm. It remains to be seen to what extent the degrees this pandemic has impacted all of us.鈥�
But with traditional ways of fundraising through community events on hold, Sokolowski added the branch is now underwater by $33,000.
Traditionally, Legion branches have also been able to raise money through the Poppy Fund, where community members can buy poppy pins by donation. Sokolowski and Saul said poppy boxes will still be available through their community partners, but as for volunteers and members selling poppies in person, they鈥檙e unsure about that.
鈥淭he risk is high if we do it in person, so we鈥檙e not sure how it will occur and if it will even occur. We still plan to run the various organization placement of the poppies and the fund baskets but in all, we鈥檙e hoping to have all of that resolve by early October,鈥� Sokolowski said.
As for Remembrance Day, both branches said they鈥檙e on standby and are still trying to plan an event where they can honour veterans鈥� sacrifice while keeping their communities safe.
READ: United Way Southern Interior child safety program expands
