This weekend the poppy campaign will be launched in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows and taggers will be at several locations collecting donations for veterans.

For the first time, taggers will be out on Sundays as well.

Taggers will be at various stores throughout the two communities from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Poppy donations can be made at IGA, Superstore, Signature Liquor Store, and Canadian Tire in Pitt Meadows, and Safeway and Save-On-Foods in west Maple Ridge.

Taggers will also be at Extra Foods, Thrifty’s, Haney Place Mall, London Drugs, the liquor store and Save-On-Foods at Valley Fair Mall, and at Cooper’s at Dewdney Trunk Road and 240th Street.

In addition to veterans, cadets and scouts will be joining the effort to raise money.

Last year, the local poppy campaign netted $61,000 – $8,000 more than the previous year.

“Our goal is to exceed the generosity of the communities of Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge what they did last year,” said Diane Cougar, who is helping organize the campaign this year.

Donors can also text Poppy 20222 to make a $5 donation to the B.C./Yukon poppy fund.