Beacher makes door poppies to raise funds for local Legion in advance of Remembrance Day

For the sixth year in a row, Beach resident Margot Rockett is making door poppies to help raise funds for Royal Canadian Legion Baron Byng Branch on Coxwell Avenue in advance of next week’s Remembrance Day.

Rockett makes the door poppies under a special licence granted by the Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Fund, and all monies raised go towards Baron Byng Branch’s fund which supports a number of programs for veterans and their families.

Some of those programs supported by the Legion Poppy Fund include help for veterans facing homelessness, service dogs for those dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and donations to veteran’s homes and care facilities.

In the case of Baron Byng Branch’s fund, support is given to the Sunnybrook Hospital Veterans’ Centre, the Leave the Streets program for veterans dealing with homelessness, medical supports and supplies for veterans at home, and the Run for Ruckus among other community services.

Cost for the large tissue paper is $10 and they can be ordered from Rockett by contacting her at doorpoppies@gmail.com.

Rockett said that new for this year’s fundraising campaign she is also offering smaller sized “pup poppies” that can be attached to dog’s leashes for the cost of $5.

Those wishing to order poppies from Rockett are asked to do so as soon as possible as numbers are limited as to how many she is able to make.

Rockett first began making the door poppies in 2020 and did so as a way to raise funds for the Legion’s Poppy Fund, but also to remember her own father Lloyd Rockett who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force in the Second World War.

“With the world the way it is now it is so important that we remember, and it is especially important for young people to know as we need to learn from our history,” said Rockett.