Someone decided to shortchange the legion this Remembrance Day. McMurray Branch 165 says a thief stole its coin collection box at the liquor store in Dickinsfield. on Sunday night.
“Someone just popped part way into the door, not even enough to catch them on videotape, because they had it on right on a wooden table right by the double door. So it was just at the edge of their video coverage. All they got is a hand reaching in and grabbing it,” says First Vice-President Ken McPherson.
The donations people leave in exchange for poppies don’t support the local legion. McMurray Branch 165 hands out the boxes to local businesses, collects them after Remembrance Day and distributes them to a veterans and seniors support services. Fort McMurray’s Army and Air cadets each get 20 per cent of the proceeds and a portion of the money is also used for Keyano College bursaries.
“It’s unfortunate. And I hope they were truly needy because that’s what this money is intended for […] All that money raised here is used in the community, for the community,” says McPherson.
The branch is still collecting donations from across Wood Buffalo. It typically raises $70,000 – $90,000 from the boxes every year.
