The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #291 kicked off their annual poppy campaign Thursday.

First responders, MLA Wayne Anderson, Mayor Bill Robertson, and members of council were all in antecedence for the ceremony at the Municipal Centre, and were pinned with poppies by legion members.

Poppy boxes will be distributed today, Maureen Haberstock, Chair of the Okotoks Legion Poppy Campaign says they plan to blanket the town in red.

"We have of course Sobey's who's been a long time supporter, Coscto, Home Depot, Safeway and Wal-Mart, we have a new addition this year too which is Save On Foods."

All three Tim Horton's locations in Okotoks will also be asking customers if they'd like a poppy with their coffee both inside, and at the drive through.

Haberstock shares the cost of a poppy is whatever you can give.

"We don't sell poppies it's by donation only, and for the manned locations we also have additional items such as book marks with Flanders Field on it, car poppies, and metal poppy pins that are more durable that you can wear all year. These are under suggested minimum donations, but it's basically whatever people want to contribute."

She says if anyone who would like a box at their business they can contact her at 403-938-0097.

Haberstock adds although poppy boxes have been stolen in Calgary, none have been taken in Okotoks in the past three years since the Legion Branch #291 opened.

"I really want to reassure our merchants and donors that unlike Calgary we have a very comprehensive security system that's man power intensive. We have people who go around all of the various locations, which is over 300 in this area, and we change over our boxes so there's never a large amount of cash in any given box."

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #291 also recently received charitable status, and now offers tax receipts for larger personal or corporate donations.

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