Members of the Bedford congregation rallied to a call for help from the local Royal British Legion for poppy appeal collectors at a local store in the week leading up to Remembrance Sunday. During the first year of official national support for the annual Poppy Day Appeal from members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints help was given by mormons in the Northampton area who donated time to give service.
In the town of Bedford a last minute call for more collectors was received for a large Tesco superstore so 20 members responded and filled time slots from 9am to 9pm, donating 54 hours, including full-time missionary sisters, Sister King from Australia and Sister Nillson from Utah serving in the Bedford congregation. Their service helped raise proceeds for the Royal British Legion's annual Poppy Day Appeal to provide ongoing support for the Armed Forces and their families. The RBL continually work with politicians to improve the lives of the Armed Forces community and have been campaigning to further the cause of serving personnel, ex-Service men and women and their families since 1921.
On Remembrance Sunday a wreath was laid on behalf of the Bedford congregation, representing the Church, by a young man, Zac Heslington, at the Bedford Remembrance Day Service, watched by an estimated one thousand people at the riverside memorial on the Embankment. The Armed Forces were in attendance, including Ian Redpath, local Church member and former armed services volunteer for the RBL in Bedford. Ian co-ordinated the rota of local mormons to ensure all timeslots were filled and vital funds collected from the public to benefit all generations of Armed Services and their families.
In the Kettering area local congregation members were able to assist the local Poppy Day Appeal by collecting monies from the public and counting the proceeds afterwards. The Royal British Legion were hoping to raise £42 million this year to go towards the Armed Forces and provide support for their families. Area community fundraiser Liz Steele spoke with Church members commenting, "Thank you for everything and I cannot say enough how much this (service) helps with the Poppy appeal."
It is hoped that local congregations will provide even more help next year with the Poppy Appeal and provide much needed service for this worthwhile cause.