Stephen Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon & East Thurrock, calls on constituents to support this year’s Poppy Appeal amid coronavirus restrictions.
Each year in November, some 30,000 Legion volunteers take to the streets armed with poppies and collecting boxes to raise millions of pounds for the Poppy Appeal. The money collected goes towards helping and supporting serving and ex-service men and women and their dependents.
The Royal British Legion has created a range of resources to help raise awareness of this year’s Poppy Appeal, and how the public can show their support in these unprecedented times. Below is information copied and pasted from the Legion with ways in which you can help.
Ways you can support the 2020 Poppy Appeal
Visit your local Supermarket
Supermarkets including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrisons, Aldi and Asda stores as well as online retailers including Amazon and eBay, and Lloyds Bank and Santander are supporting this year’s Poppy Appeal. There are a variety of cashless donation options at each location with Morrisons and Sainsbury’s also offering people the opportunity to add a donation to their shopping bill.
Donate online
From 6 October, when you donate online, you’ll receive a link to a printable poppy which you can print off and place in your window to show others you’re supporting the Poppy Appeal.
Find out more: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate
Text to donate
- To donate £2 text POPPY2 to 70545
- To donate £5 text POPPY5 to 70545
- To donate £10 text POPPY10 to 70545
Find out more (inc T&Cs): https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate
My Poppy Run
Our park run events usually take place in October and November, but these are unable to take place this year due to social distancing measures. Join us instead for My Poppy Run, our virtual event, and support your Poppy Appeal in 2020.Choose to run, jog or walk, maybe take your four-legged friend along too.
Find out more: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/things-to-do/events/my-poppy-run
Poppy Shop
The Poppy Shop has an extensive range of products, from iconic poppy pins and jewellery, to clothing, stationery, homeware and everything in between.
100% of the profits from the Poppy Shop go towards funding the Legion’s ongoing work in supporting the Armed Forces community, serving and ex-serving personnel and their families.
By shopping online at the Poppy Shop this Poppy Appeal, you're helping us to provide vital services and support, from expert guidance and advice, to recovery and rehabilitation.
Find out more: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-give/shop/poppy-shop
Poppies in the Post
Every year, our volunteers distribute over 40 million poppies to help our vital work in supporting the Armed Forces community. Due to COVID-19 this year, many of our volunteers are unable to help. That’s why we are asking kind supporters like you to help distribute poppies to your friends and neighbours so that we can continue to support our Armed Forces community in their time of need, ensuring their unique contribution is never forgotten.
Request 20 poppies free of charge by completing the form below. You can then give them to your friends and family and ask them for a donation to support our Armed Forces community.
Along with the poppies, you will also receive information on how you and those you share your poppies with can give as well as how to distribute the poppy safely and ensure everyone can wear the poppy with pride.
Find out more: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-give/poppies-in-the-post
Printable Poppy
This Poppy Appeal, we want to ensure that everyone can still get their poppy, so we’ve developed an A4 poster of the iconic Remembrance Poppy that you can download, print, and display at home, perhaps in your front window.
Download a full colour poster or one that you (or someone you know) can enjoy colouring in: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate
Stephen Metcalfe said: “There are more ways than ever that you can support the Poppy Appeal, every donation helps the Legion provide an invaluable service to the men and women who have dedicated their lives in service to this country.
Wearing a poppy is but a small way of demonstrating our thanks to soldiers now, and throughout our history who have put themselves in great danger to ensure that we at home can live in freedom. For this we must forever be grateful.’’
