A new Poppy Appeal coordinator has been appointed for Stroud following an appeal for volunteers.
The Royal British Legion charity, which organises the Poppy Appeal every October and November, relies on volunteers to raise vital funds for veterans, active service personnel and their families.
This year, Stroud District Council joined forces with the Royal British Legion to urgently find a new coordinator for Stroud.
After numerous responses to the appeal, Karen Pitney was appointed. She said:
“I’m incredibly proud to be the daughter of a Royal Navy Sailor, so the idea that we may not have had a Poppy Appeal in Stroud was quite a shock to me.
“The previous co-ordinator has done a fantastic job which I’m hoping, in time, I can emulate.
“For this year I’m just going to do my best and will gratefully accept any help I’m offered!”
Anyone wishing to help sell poppies in Stroud can get in touch with Karen by email at Stroud.poppy@hotmail.com
Cllr Kate Kay, Chair of SDC’s Armed Forces Champion group added:
“The Poppy Appeal is a cherished national tradition. We’re very grateful to Karen for stepping forward to secure the future of the appeal in Stroud and all the volunteers who give their time selling poppies across the district.”
Poppies will be available for sale at various locations throughout the Stroud district including major supermarkets, garages and on-street collections.
The Poppy Appeal is the Royal British Legion’s largest fundraising campaign held annually in the lead-up to Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday. Funds raised provide support for the Armed Forces community, including housing, debt and money advice, mobility assistance, and employment support. The RBL also offers recovery programmes featuring adaptive sports, adventurous training, and arts projects.
Stroud District Council’s Armed Forces Champion group, comprising elected councillors and officers, meet regularly with local veterans’ groups to ensure the needs of veterans in the Stroud district are met.
Recently, the group has collaborated on the renovation and cleaning of the war memorial in Park Gardens in Stroud.
There is information, including sources of local support including links to local veterans’ social groups which provide peer support on the council’s website: www.stroud.gov.uk/veterans
Sign up for email alerts: https://www.stroud.gov.uk/apps/email-alerts
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Photo: Poppy Appeal volunteers in Waitrose, Stroud
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