Christine Merlington, Department Poppy Chair
There is sometimes confusion about the donation funds received for poppies and how those funds can be used. The easiest way to find out is to look through your Poppy Guide Book. You can purchase a guidebook from Emblem Sales. You can go to alaforveterans.org to look up the Poppy Program and print it for your own use. Please, let’s be mindful of what we choose to support with our Poppy Funds.
More specifically, some of the programs and items to use your poppy funds on are as follows:
There are three major National Mission Outreach activities which your Poppies can support: Veterans Creative Arts Festival, Honor Flights, and providing food for servicemembers nationwide. Active-Duty families can also be assisted with Poppy Funds.
Immediate family and dependents who live with the Veteran can be assisted with Poppy Funds. Remember, if the Veteran is deceased, the funds can no longer be used to assist the families.
Use of Poppy Funds is allowable for care packages only when it is for a welfare need (such as first aid, topical treatment, or vital hygiene items), as opposed to a comfort need, and not comfort/leisure items such as baked goods or books. Gift cards can be purchased with Poppy Funds by organizations like the American Legion Auxiliary, and programs that use these funds often provide gift cards for specific needs like food, gas, or clothing.
Scholarships (or funds to aid with higher education) would have to be for a veteran or their immediate family member who demonstrates an immediate financial need. For example, if a unit is met with a situation in which a student meets Poppy Fund eligibility and demonstrates a financial need (e.g., delay in delivery of post 9/11 GI Bill funding impacting their academics), the unit may decide to use Poppy Funds to assist the student.
Remember, if you have any concerns or questions, always look through your guide; it is your best place to find answers.
The red poppy is a nationally recognized symbol of sacrifice worn by Americans since World War I to honor those who served and died for our country in all wars. It reminds Americans of the sacrifices made by our veterans while protecting our freedom.
