Buy a smile and give a smile.
There is no statement more fitting than that.
The Tim Hortons Smile Cookie program does just that as patrons to all Tim Hortons stores across their respective communities sell signature chocolate chunk cookies, decorated with blue eyes and a cheerful pink smile, for $1 in support of local organizations and charities.
The stores in and around greater St. John’s — 31 in total — are fundraising for two of these organizations – Rainbow Riders and the School Lunch Association.
The 2018 Smile Cookie campaign runs from Sept. 17-23 and if mid-week numbers are any indication, this year will be a banner year for the two local charities.
“I have been part of this for 15 years and my dad (Mark Woodford) before me,’’ Tim Hortons franchisee Marlene Van de Wiel said.
“I did a quick count of our five locations, and we have already sold more than 6,000 cookies, 2,000 today already (as of 2 p.m. Wednesday) and that doesn’t count the other 26 stores in St. John’s and surrounding area,’’ she added.
Like most fundraisers, they evolve over time and the Tim Hortons franchisees are making it easier for the public to participate. You can get a single cookie at the counter, grab six and save the tax, or pre-order larger quantities and your favourite location will have them ready for pickup in advance for your business or organization.
“People have come to know September as Smile Cookie month and they are now reaching out to us to be involved. It’s great they want to help,’’ Van de Wiel said.
Last year, the campaign raised over $6.5 million nationally. Locally, franchisees will be donating to the Rainbow Riders and School Lunch programs.
Tim Hortons and Rainbow Riders have had a long-running relationship.
The therapeutic riding program has helped Newfoundland and Labrador children with physical, cognitive or emotional disabilities reach their full potential for over 20 years. Therapeutic riding is a modern form of therapy with many benefits.
The partnership with Tim Hortons has been around since Rainbow Riders’ inception.
“We’ve been affiliated with Tim Hortons since we started in Newfoundland and Labrador. What they do through the Smile Cookies goes a long way to helping us,’’ said Margaret Tibbo, a member of the Rainbow Riders board of directors.
“They have helped us with our ongoing program. Their fundraisers show they are committed to us as it helped us establish our new facility,’’ she added.
Each child who registers with Rainbow Riders is paired with one of its program horses. With help from a qualified team of volunteers, children experience the joy of riding.
During the one-hour program session, children complete a series of exercises that are designed to help them improve strength and co-ordination, increase flexibility and learn about horseback riding.
Children develop a bond with their horse and are able to achieve things they never thought possible. To learn more on rainbow riders, to volunteer with its programs or to donate, go to http://www.rainbowridersnl.com.
Studies have shown that children who eat healthy meals are better able to navigate their days and having a full stomach helps the education process.
Educators and their vast array of community partners know the challenges involved in doing so.
That is where the School Lunch Association comes in.
“Having Tim’s support is absolutely thrilling,’’ said Ken Hopkins, executive director of the School Lunch Association.
“There are a lot of people out here wanting to help and the work the people at Tim’s do speaks for itself,’’ he added.
Hopkins said being able to support the students in the 34 schools where the program is offered — including for the first time off the Avalon in Clarenville — is fulfilling but challenging.
“There are 13,000 students who get access to meals each day. Doing that is not easy or cheap,’’ he said.
“The budget, which this partnership enhances, is about $400,000. We manage to get close to that annually and we find ways to make up the difference to keep the program going,’’ he added.
The School Lunch Association is a registered charity whose mission is to operate a non-stigmatizing program that provides a hot, nutritious lunch for schoolchildren, regardless of a family’s financial situation.
The program serves over 5,800 meals each day, in 34 schools across Newfoundland.
More information about the School Lunch Association is available by logging on to https://schoollunch.ca/.
Sharing smiles across Canada since 1996, the fundraiser first launched to raise funds for the Hamilton Children’s Hospital in Ontario.
The arrival of the blue eyes and pink frosted smile has grown to become a beloved annual fundraising initiative supporting more than 500 charities and organizations, as Tim Hortons guests and restaurant owners’ commitment to strengthening their communities.
For the first time, the Smile Cookie campaign will be celebrated globally with many Tim Hortons locations participating around the world, including in the U.S., Mexico, the U.K., the Philippines and the U.A.E.
Visit www.timhortons.com/smilecookie to learn more about this year’s campaign partners across Canada and show your support by sharing #SmileCookie on social media.
