The annual poppy drive is in full swing in Portage la Prairie. Jo-Ann Barnes, past president and co-poppy chair for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 65, says they already have about a hundred and twenty-five boxes out to area businesses and the Army and Air Cadets are having their poppy drive this Saturday. Barnes notes once that event is completed this weekend they'll be able to go out and set up more boxes, adding there were a few places in town that they missed. She says it's very important for people to wear their poppies each November to keep awareness of our present and past veterans, and to show respect for the troops and for our country.

Barnes notes the money collected from sale of the poppies never goes to the Legion but instead to a trust fund for veterans and their families. She adds this includes different places in the community which are often frequented by veterans, such as Lions Prairie Manor, Douglas Campbell Lodge, Central Plains Cancer Care, the Herman Prior Centre and the Portage and District Hospital Foundation. Barnes says they also give out six bursaries to high school students and they support the cadets with a donation each year. She notes the Legion greatly appreciates the support they receive from the community, adding last year the poppy drive took in approximately six thousand dollars and they hope to be able to assist even more veterans with the funds from this month's campaign.