The Abbotsford branch of the Royal Canadian Legion has been busy distributing the record $60,000 raised in the 2014 Poppy Fund Campaign.
Funds raised in November go to a variety of Legion-sponsored programs, including bursaries to the children or grandchildren of Canadian Forces veterans.
The bursaries are distributed based on a needs scale established by Legion rules for the Poppy Fund.
Among the recent recipients is Jessica Locke, who will enter her second year of nursing studies at University of the Fraser Valley this September.
Locke’s military relative served in the Second World War as a Newfoundland forester.
Also through the Legion, several Second World War and Korean War veterans and/or their widows have received assistance – such as extra support for home and health needs – due to their changing needs caused by aging.
The B.C.-Yukon command of the Canadian Legion has also been given some of the local funds.
This money is used to assist modern veterans who have served in places such as Bosnia and Afghanistan. Many of these soldiers are being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Families of these veterans are also receiving needed resources.
The BCIT Military Skills Conversion Program assists Canadian Forces members to ease back into civilian life upon discharge.
The Abbotsford Legion has also contributed to the B.C. Legion Foundation, which has, in part, funded state-of-the-art technology in the field of medicine.
Afghanistan veteran Trevor Green has been equipped with the Exoskeleton, a device that allows him to walk again.
The Abbotsford branch has also been able to do some needed repairs and updates to its facilities at its hall on West Railway Avenue.
Future plans include enhancing the kitchen facilities.