Editor:
Two years ago I joined the Royal Canadian Legion because I wanted to help.
It is an organization whose mission is to serve veterans, their families, to promote remembrance and to serve our community and country.
Many people know of the legion, they know how it supports veterans and their families and how it supports the community, especially youth groups, scouts, guides, skating, air cadets, organizations to assist special groups in our area.
The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 59 (Grand Forks) brings in a lot of money through its fundraising efforts.
What I wonder is if most people realize that 80 per cent of all funds raised must go back to support the community.
The reason I write this letter, not as a member of the legion, but as a citizen of this country and a member of this area community, is because the legion in Grand Forks is in financial trouble.
While we silently go along raising money to support these groups, we are also silently going under.
It would be very sad to see this wonderful organization have to close its doors in this area.
It would also be a terrible loss to the many, many organizations that the Royal Canadian Legion assists every year.
I want residents to know that donations to the legion can be both for special events and also directly to the legion branch itself; we need help to keep afloat!
The lounge used to keep the building and administrative costs going but we are running in the hole and can only do that for so long.
We have never gone out to ask for money for “us” but we need your help so we can survive and continue the work our members do for the benefit of our community and country.
I wanted to take the time to let local residents know just where money raised for the legion goes and what our current situation is. Thank you.
Ken Gresley-Jones, Christina Lake