Regina Legion in need of donations to stay open

“If we don’t get the money in, and we don’t get donations in, and we don’t increase our membership – the legion will close.”

Jody Hoffman is the operations manager with the Royal Canadian Legion in Regina.

The Greg Morgan Morning Show is broadcasting live from the Regina Legion Thursday morning to raise awareness. Anyone wishing to donate can call 306-522-2676.

The organization is in a tough situation in Regina at the moment. Hoffman explained that its membership is getting older, which means they’re dying, and younger veterans aren’t joining — often because they don’t know the legion exists.

Hoffman said the group has been trying to raise money and raise its membership. Recently, its had to dip into its savings to stay afloat and Hoffman said if the legion keeps having to do that, it will be closed within two years.

If there’s no more legion it would have an effect on Regina, especially in November.

“There would be no more poppy fund, so we wouldn’t have any poppies out. The Remembrance Day services would no longer be at the Cenotaph and at the Brandt Centre,” explained Hoffman.

Not to mention the services the legion provides to veterans in Regina and across the province would no longer be available.

The Regina legion is also a historic chapter: it was the first to be chartered in Canada, back in 1926, which is why it’s branch #001.

The legion had a GoFundMe page up, but took it down in respect for Remembrance Day. Hoffman said it may go back up in the new year.

Hoffman said several businesses have reached out to help, including Brandt Industries which donated $5,000 and is willing to match another $5,000 in donations from others.

Donations come in as veterans share stories

During a live broadcast of the Greg Morgan Morning Show, several veterans and legion members stopped by to share their stories and talk about what the Legion means to them.