We are less than one month from National Poppy Day® 2022! Are you getting ready? 
 
American Legion Auxiliary members can help our organization by incorporating small branding changes that add up to make big differences. One mission-related branding event members can and should always focus on is the Friday before Memorial Day — National Poppy Day. 
 
In addition to the traditional label on our poppy, here are a few suggested areas where the ALA brand also should be seen: 

• Money buckets: Label whatever you use (can, jar, basket, etc.) for distribution days with a donation can label. Download an ALA-branded poppy donation can label at www.ALAforVeterans.org and search “donation can label.” This is a visual way to help the public understand that their poppy donation helps the Auxiliary assist veterans, military, and their families. You can also check with your local businesses to see if they would be willing to place your donation can at their location as a collection site.  
• Signage (banners, posters, tablecloths, and more): Be well-branded with a variety of signage so people know who we are, what we do, and why we matter. For those hosting a contactless drive-thru poppy distribution, units and departments can download banners at www.ALAforVeterans.org. Two sizes are available: 8 feet by 2 feet, and 8 feet by 3 feet. Additionally, poppy posters are available to use at your poppy booth, inside your post home, or wherever you may be distributing poppies. Sizes are 11 inch by 17 inch, and 18 inch by 24 inch. One poster is branded for National Poppy Day, and one includes the In Flanders Fields poem. 
• Apparel: Don’t forget about yourself as a walking billboard! Make sure you are branded as well, whether it’s through a poppy shirt, hat, scarf, pin, or other item. Poppy items can be purchased through American Legion Flag & Emblem Sales at www.Emblem.Legion.org. Bonus idea: even when you aren’t distributing poppies, don your poppy apparel while grocery shopping, walking, or anywhere in a public space — you might get asked about it and you might even get a donation for your unit too!
• Anything handed out to the public: Besides the poppy you distribute in exchange for a donation, all other items, such as informational giveaways, should be branded so people will learn about and remember the meaning of the poppy long after they’ve made their donations. 

 
Mission in Action grant can help with branding
A great way to assist your unit, district/county, or department spread the news about National Poppy Day and the meaning behind the flower is to apply for a Mission in Action grant from the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation. 
 
This grant can help members be more recognizable in their communities for everything they do for our veterans, military, and their families. 
Guidelines: 

• The applicant must be an American Legion Auxiliary entity: unit, district/county, or department.
• The proposal must address a specific ALA branding need that will help members with mission delivery and be recognizable in the community. The project must support the ALA mission, or an ALA program identified in the national action plan. 
• One grant per grantee in a 12-month period will be awarded.

For more information on the grant or to apply, visit www.ALAFoundation.org/mission-in-action-grants.