Poppies will soon become a familiar sight in Saskatoon as the 2018 Poppy Campaign kicked-off Friday morning in the city.
Members from the city, fire, police along with veterans were among those in attendance at Market Mall for the official ceremony to launch the campaign.
Money raised from the campaign will go towards the primary goal of helping veterans with their needs including health expenses, and rent costs.
Money will also go towards helping veterans’ families and local cadet troops who help with the annual campaign.
Alfred Schmidt, a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces who served during the Korean war says it’s a great feeling and that it brings a tear to his eye every time he sees someone wearing a poppy this time of year.
He lost his brother who was serving as part of the Canadian Forces while in Afghanistan.
Eric Anderson from the Sherbrooke Community Centre says donations from the campaign go a long way in supporting the veterans at the facility.
This year $40 thousand dollars was donated to the community centre from the Poppy Campaign and that money will go towards installing ceiling track lifts for veterans at the facility.
Anderson adds the lifts will provide both added mobility for veterans and safety for workers.
Donation boxes for the annual Poppy Campaign can be found throughout the city at different businesses and centres.