This year’s Poppy Appeal is under way for Dumfries and Galloway.
There are displays and collection boxes in Dumfries’ Loreburne Centre and Morrisons, as well as Tesco and Aldi stores across the region.
The Scottish Poppy Appeal is Scotland’s largest fundraising campaign and takes place annually in the lead up to November’s Remembrance Day – with the public invited to donate to take a poppy to wear in return. This is in remembrance of those who fought and died for the nation in two World Wars and other conflicts.
Some of the region’s Poppyscotland supporters launched their annual Scottish Poppy Appeal on Friday with a stall in the Loreburne Centre.
Appealing for support from the local communities again, Dumfries’ Richard Reade MBE, area organiser for Poppyscotland, said: “The appeal last year was the most successful yet for Dumfries raising a grand total of £2,2445.
“This was of course due to the extreme generosity of the people, young and not so young, of Dumfries.
“Dumfries was rated fourth in Scotland nationally for the amount of funds raised towards Poppyscotland in 2023 – this is a total for the burgh to be proud of.”
Money raised during the Scottish Poppy Appeal is used to provide vital life-changing support for service families, veterans and those currently serving. Annually, some three million poppies are distributed across Scotland by teams of volunteers.
The appeal supports more than 500,000 members of the Armed Forces community in Scotland.
Aldi Scotland stores in the region will have Poppyscotland volunteers in-store each day until Monday, November 11. They will also be in other shops and stores for the next week or so, and the cadets are collecting in Annan.
In Dumfries’ Morrisons store, community champion Myra Smith invited The Crichton Writers group to help with this year’s in-store display.
Myra said: “The writers wrote us war poems to be displayed for everyone to see in the store. I would like to thank the group for accepting my invitation to display their work at this year’s appeal. I would also like to thank our customers for their on going support with their donations to the charity every year.”
The group are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year and created the poems after taking part in a workshop.
If anyone is interested in joining the group please get in touch at [email protected].