Legions of coffee-drinkers

Bravo Zulu to the Royal Canadian Legion:

The Royal Canadian Legion’s Troop Morale Fund dedicated to ensuring our troops get a coffee and a doughnut is working for the troops in Afghanistan. More than $20,000 has been donated to the fund in the first month of its operation – almost enough to buy the troops a coffee and a doughnut on a weekly basis.

“Things tend to start a little slowly,” says Dominion President John Frost, “because we are such a large organization.” The Legion has almost 400,000 members in approximately 1,550 branches across Canada. “But they are starting to pick up now and we are seeing the funds arrive for the purchase of Tim Hortons gift certificates that can be used by the troops in Afghanistan.”

To mark the campaign’s success Mr. Frost made a presentation of $6,000 US worth of Tim Hortons Gift Certificates to Lt.-Gen. Michel Gauthier, Commander, Canadian Expeditionary Force Command (CEFCOM). The 3,000 certificates are to be sent to the troops serving in Afghanistan for use at the Tim Hortons outlet there.

“We want to send this amount of certificates on a weekly basis,” says Mr. Frost, “and our branches are going to make that possible. Many of them have come up with ideas on how to raise the funds and are putting them in place. Our troops deserve this type of support and they will get it from the members of The Royal Canadian Legion.”

Unfortunately, the Legion doesn't advise how you and I can contribute to this campaign. I suppose you could walk through the doors of your local branch and lay your $5 on the counter...

If anyone within the RCL organization can suggest a better way (hint: a button on your website would be a most convenient), let me know and I'll post it here.



It seems like a small and insignificant way to express our thanks, I know. But wouldn't it be great if Canadian soldiers never had to fork over their own cash for a double-double in Afghanistan again? Good on the folks at the Legion for making their presence felt in this most positive way.