Charities and community programs continue to benefit from this year’s Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign.
Local Tim Hortons owners, the Pritchard family, along with Mike and Paula Grail recently donated $49,600 to the Children’s Treatment Centre Foundation of Chatham-Kent.
During the Smile Cookie campaign between September 19-25, over 40 community volunteers and staff from the treatment centre were invited to help bake and decorate Smile Cookies at Tim Hortons locations in Chatham, Wallaceburg and Dresden. Volunteers baked more than 8,000 cookies to bulk up the supply that could be sold to the public.
The Chatham-Kent Student Nutrition Program also recently received a donation of $21,235 from this year’s Smile Cookie campaign, thanks to the support from Tim Hortons in Blenheim, Bothwell, Thamesville, Ridgetown, and Mill Street in Tilbury.
Proceeds from Smile Cookies purchased at the eastbound 401 On Route near Tilbury will benefit Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Chatham-Kent.
More than 5000 children made use of services at the Children’s Treatment Centre in 2022. A number of programs, including Social Work, Therapeutic Recreation Services and Music Therapy are not covered by government funding and rely on fundraising efforts through the CTC Foundation.
The Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign initially began in 1996 to help raise funds for the Hamilton Children’s Hospital. It has since grown to become a major fundraising event, with proceeds from Smile Cookies supporting charities in communities across the country.