Veterans are being acknowledged this month as Legion Week kicks off Sunday.
The celebration goes until June 31 and is observed Canada wide, but locally Saanich Peninsula Branch 37 will be honouring local veterans with a veterans lunch on Wednesday, June 27 at 1 p.m.
The Saanich Peninsula branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is a driving force in the community, says branch 37 executive member Sandra Hood.
“[The legion] is very active in the community and we endeavour to help many groups including veterans, seniors, and youth,” said Hood.
The various causes they support include the Lodge at Broadmead, Legion Manor and the Sidney Lions Food Bank.
Food bank administrator Beverly Elder says the legion provides them with cash donations which go to help them purchase food to stock their shelves.
“We have been receiving donations from the legion for as long as I can remember,” said Elder, who has worked at the food bank for almost 12 years.
“The legion’s donations always seem to come at just the right time. We just received a $1,000 cheque from them and it couldn’t have been a better time to get it.”