Jayne Herring and husband David were simply looking for “something to do in times of COVID.”

So, after some friends posted photos on Facebook of the Niagara Poppy Project in November, the pair jumped in their car and went for a drive to view it in person.

“I was just absolutely moved by it. Something so simple and yet so moving, and I thought to myself, we have to do this in Cambridge,” Herring said.

Now, she is.

The launch for the project — a community art display created with handmade poppies to honour veterans — took about two months.

“I came home and thought, OK, we’re doing this. Then thought, you know what, maybe I should call somebody and ask them about this,” she said with a laugh about the four-hour phone call with an organizer.

Then it was time to assemble a local team to tackle the project, with artist Sue Study and city Coun. Pam Wolf the first to jump on board. She then added Dan Ingrouville as the project designer and lead, Susan Cresswell as a community knitting and crocheting liaison, and Heather Campbell and Carla Johnson as school and community liaisons.

The group is now encouraging members of the community, as well as schools, retirement homes, church groups, youth groups and legions to create at least 10,000 poppies for an outdoor display at each of the Preston, Hespeler and Queen’s Square Idea Exchange locations.

“This is a Cambridge project, so we wanted one in all three areas.”

The poppies will be collected until Sept. 30 — though they won’t be turned down after that — and the project will run from Oct. 29 to the morning of Nov. 12. Cambridge archives has recorded 5,753 names of area residents who served in the First World War, Second World War and the Korean War.

“With things being so anxiety-ridden, and just worrying as they are, this is just something that we can all embrace positivity,” Herring said.

With approval from the Royal Canadian Legion in Ottawa, Herring said the project is bound to using the traditional red and black poppy for the display. How to knit or crochet the poppy is available on their website at www.cambridgepoppyproject.ca.

Herring added while the pattern is a simple one, some people aren’t adept at knitting or crocheting, and some artists work in other media such as quilting, stain glass or fibre. To accommodate everyone, an alternate complementary display will be curated by Sturdy. The alternate display may also include variations in the colours of poppies.

Herring said the project is a great way for the community to “come together separately.”

What the project will look like will be revealed closer to the display date and will be dependent on the number of poppies collected.

“I’ve seen the preliminary designs and they are very inspirational and very moving,” Herring said.

Finished poppies can be dropped off in book deposit slots at all Idea Exchange locations, or a porch drop can be made at 31 Rich Ave. Poppies can be mailed to Cambridge Poppy Project, 31 Rich Ave., Cambridge Ont., N1R 2A4.

A running total of the poppies received will be on the project website, as well as names of participants. Herring is encouraging residents to reach out to family and friends around the world to contribute a poppy to see how far away it can reach.