4 Zero-Waste Poppies

It’s that time of year where we adorn our jackets with a poppy to honour those who have served and sacrificed. The poppy has become the official symbol of remembrance and the Legion’s Nation Poppy Campaign has officially begun. The monies collected by volunteers through the poppy program, goes to help our veterans. Those little felt-and-plastic poppies, while important, easily get lost and create waste. If you are looking for an alternative to the poppies offered at your local grocery store or coffee shop, I have a few suggestions.

1. The Poppy Store on the Canadian Legion website offers a beautiful selection of poppy lapel pins and brooches. Proceeds go directly to the Legion and you get a reusable poppy pin to use year to year. If you are still wanting to wear a traditional poppy you get at the donation locations, they also offer a poppy centre pin that may be used to replace the traditional felt centre and pin. The poppy centre is a reusable butterfly pin that will securely hold lapel poppies in place. Keep your poppy and wear it again next year.
2. I got my enamel poppy brooch on Poshmark a couple years ago. I recently did a search, and there are many secondhand and boutique options available on the resale site. Simply type “poppy pin” in the search and find yourself a reusable poppy.
3. If you like to craft, a simple DIY can do the trick. I made some a few years ago for my kids. I just used some scrap red fabric and a black pom-pom for the centre. I folded the fabric several times to create layers, cut out a large circle and then sewed a black pom-pom into the centre. They attach to a jacket with a safety pin which keeps it secure and doesn’t poke. Looking for some inspiration? Visit Pinterest for some DIY tutorials like this one on My Babe.
4. Canadian Metis fashion designer, Anne Mulaire, has created a collection of Remembering Everyday Pins. These pins were created as reminders to remember important events every day. The sales proceeds from each of the pins goes towards selected Indigenous organizations, including the Indian Residential School Survivors Society, Indigenous Veterans Organizations and more. 

Even though you aren’t grabbing one of the felt poppies, you can still donate money either by cash in the kettles you see or by going online. Show your support while eliminating the waste. —Jen Pistor

legion.ca