THE Poole Branch of the Royal British Legion were donated a pop-up poppy shop to help with poppy sales this year.
The Dolphin Centre donated the RBL a unit opposite Wilko which was forced to close after four days due to going into a new lockdown.
Poole branch managed to collect about £5,500 compared to about £15,500 the year before.
Mr Ronnie Barker, Chairman of the Dorset County Community Support Committee and the Branch Community Support Officer of both Broadstone and Poole Branch said: “We have not been able to deploy our poppy sellers to their usual locations.
“Poole branch managed to collect about £5,500 compared to about £15,500 the year before.”
Mr Barker urged more people to become volunteers and spare half an hour a week fundraising.
Remembrance services also had to be scaled back this year with only six people in attendance.
Mr Barker said: “I’m really pleased people got together so we could do it with limitations, it would be wrong to do nothing.
“Not having the memorial cost about four thousand pounds worth of donations.”
The coronavirus pandemic has meant that the Legion has had to suspend all face-to-face visits and instead have started a telephone buddy service.
Between November 2018 and 2019, the Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Wiltshire branches of the RBL responded to 1967 cases.
If you would like to volunteer as a telephone buddy or fundraiser contact Ronnie at: waynebarker67@btinternet.com or via the RBL website: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/things-to-do/volunteer/why-volunteer?seg=XPBPPC
If anyone requires help from the RBL they can call the help line on 08088028080 which is open 8am to 8pm 7 days a week.
Read More Here:
https://buzz.bournemouth.ac.uk/?p=330248&preview=true&preview_id=330248
https://buzz.bournemouth.ac.uk/?p=328796&preview=true&preview_id=328796
Read more here
Australian Koala Crisis: Environmental activists on threat to native species