OSHAWA -- Despite a few bumps in the road, Branch 637 of the Royal Canadian Legion managed to exceed all expectations for this year's poppy campaign.
The Sir William Stephenson branch in north Oshawa started this year's effort with modest goals -- after all, the campaign was five days shorter than last year's.
Then, nine of the branch's poppy boxes were stolen from local stores.
But in the end, that didn't stop them from topping last year's fundraising total.
Alan MacGregor, the branch's poppy chairman, said there are still a few dollars and cents to be added up, but estimates they raised about $56,000 this year, compared with $53,200 in 2007.
"We didn't expect it; it's wonderful," he said. "I think it's because we had more volunteers this time and some were going out three or four times."â?¨ That total is on top of money raised by Oshawa's other legion branch, No. 43 on Simcoe Street South.
Poppy proceeds are placed in trust funds, with tight restrictions on spending.
Approved uses include basic needs like food, shelter and medical care for veterans and their dependents in need, low-cost housing for seniors and people with disabilities, bursaries for the children and grandchildren of veterans and programs like drop-in centres, transportation and meals-on-wheels for seniors and veterans.
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