Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh joined volunteers at Sainsbury’s Merton today to fundraise for the Royal British Legion ahead of Remembrance Day.
The MP, who has for several years dedicated time in the run-up to Remembrance Day to raise funds toward the cause, was praised by fellow volunteers for her dedication.
The stand run entirely by Royal British Legion volunteers is a key fundraising location in the area.
Ms McDonagh said: “We make around a thousand pounds a day selling poppies here.
“It’s a great deal of money that is going to do a great deal of good for our veterans in the coming years so it is very worthwhile.”
Mitcham resident Elizabeth Buchanan, 71, is one of the volunteers who arrives at the stand as early as 7am to sell poppies and other merchandise.
“I have met so many wonderful people and I hope to do it again,” she said,
“Last Saturday we raised three thousand pounds in just two hours and we are so happy.”
Fellow volunteer and Mitcham resident Yvonne Swann, 79, Said: “I want to do it again, it’s the most worthwhile thing I’ve done in my lifetime.”
The stall inside Sainsbury’s at the Savacentre in Merton High Street thrives off of community spirit.
“What is quite touching is the number of people who have come up and spoken to us,” said Ms McDonagh
“It is a sign of our community, when people come down the escalators, it’s hard to predict who is going to put money in the tin, who is going to want a poppy.
“It defies generations, it defies ethnicity.
“People of all sorts and all backgrounds come and give and join in remembrance and that is a truly amazing thing.
Ms McDonagh said: “The unspoken sacrifice of so many people is what moves me.”
