Meeting the needs of those who require help in the community continues to be the foundation the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign was built on.
Each September, store owners across North America block out a week to sell the specially decorated cookies, sporting the blue eyes and pink smile that adorns them, for $1 (plus tax).
This raises millions of dollars nationwide, and this year’s total surpassed $7.7 million.
Included in that total was more than $83,000 that was split equally between the Rainbow Riders therapeutic riding program and the School Lunch Association.
The Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign allows patrons to get a smile and give a smile, as all Tim Hortons stores across their respective communities sold the signature chocolate chunk cookies.
The stores in and around greater St. John’s, 31 in total, fundraised for two of these organizations — the Rainbow Riders and the School Lunch Association.
Each program was presented with a cheque for $41,924 during a ceremony held at the Tim Hortons location on Harvey Road in St. John’s.
For more than 20 years, the Rainbow Riders have been the benefactor of the Smile Cookie sales.
“To get a donation like this, we are thrilled and so grateful for all the efforts of the wonderful store employees and owners who take on this initiative,” said Karen Hurtubise, a Rainbow Riders board member.
“This money will allow us to expand our programs to those who wouldn’t have had a chance to benefit from the great opportunities of the program.’’
Customers from coast to coast helped raise millions of dollars through the delicious act of purchasing a Tim Hortons chocolate chunk Smile Cookie. That equated to school-age children having the opportunity to have meals.
“We are just starting our 29th year and each year our numbers grow. We are now in 34 schools and have the potential to reach 13,000 students each day, so support like this is huge,’’ said Ken Hoskins, executive director of the School Lunch Program.
“Having the ability through the support of this program allows us to allow students access to a meal each day. This donation alone will allow us to serve almost 14,000 meals,’’ he added.
The program serves over 5,800 meals each day, in 34 schools across Newfoundland.
In 1996, the Smile Cookie campaign started as a way to help raise funds for the Hamilton Children's Hospital in Ontario.
In the 22 years since that first campaign, the program has grown to become a cross-Canada fundraising event and provides much-needed support to over 500 Canadian charities and community programs.
“The Smile Cookie Campaign highlights not just the power of a smile, but the amazing generosity of Canadians,” Tim Hortons president Alex Macedo said in a news release.
“From the hardworking team members who decorate each cookie by hand, to the guests we serve every day, to our charitable partners, we're so thankful that we are able to play a role in raising millions of dollars to make a real difference in communities across the country.”
