Thanks to Tim Hortons and community support, the annual Smile Cookie campaign in the Peterborough area has raised almost $137,000 in support of children with special needs and animals in care.
Both Five Counties Children’s Centre and the Peterborough Humane Society were the beneficiaries of this spring’s campaign, which saw 18 Tim Hortons locations across Peterborough, Bridgenorth, Lakefield, and Curve Lake donate 100 per cent of the proceeds of the sale of Smile Cookies between April 27 and May 3.
The campaign raised a total of $136,711.96, which will be split equally between Five Counties and the Peterborough Humane Society, with each charitable organization receiving $68,355.98.
For Five Counties, which supports children and youth with physical, developmental, and communication needs, the funds will go towards its Building Abilities for Life campaign that ensures kids can more easily access high-demand treatment services that will benefit them as they grow up.
“Our community truly came together to make this all possible,” said Five Counties CEO Scott Pepin in a media release. “We are grateful to everyone who volunteered their time, helped spread the word, purchased Smile Cookies, and supported this initiative.”
“We are also very appreciative of Tim Hortons and its staff, who warmly welcomed our volunteers. Their ongoing generosity and commitment to community organizations is truly inspiring, and it was a pleasure to work alongside them and the Peterborough Humane Society.”
For the Peterborough Humane Society, the funds will go towards animal care programs, including sheltering, medical care, and adoptions.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Tim Hortons owners for selecting us as a Smile Cookie beneficiary and for the opportunity to partner with both Five Counties throughout this campaign,” said Peterborough Humane Society CEO Shawn Morey.
“We’re proud to have more than 100 volunteers lend their time throughout the week. We extend our sincere thanks to the Tim Hortons staff who made us feel like part of the team. With the support of our community, many children, families, and pets will benefit.”
Since it was launched in 1996, the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign has raised more than $170 million for charities and community groups across Canada selected every year by Tim Hortons restaurant owners. This year’s campaign raised a record-breaking $23.3 million for more than 700 organizations.
