Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign returns this month, with this year's proceeds from locations in Newmarket, Aurora and East Gwillimbury going to Inn From the Cold's All Inn! capital campaign to build a new shelter.
The special cookies with a smiley face on them will be for sale at Tim Hortons stores Sept. 19 to 25. One hundred per cent of the proceeds from the sale of these cookies goes to support a charity in the community.
"We're really, really pleased. This is our first time ever being involved with the Smile Cookie campaign, so we're really hopeful," said Ann Watson, executive director at Inn From The Cold. "It's a great opportunity and we're really happy to have been selected."
All Inn! aims to raise $2.5 million to build a new shelter in Newmarket. Tim Hortons owners in Newmarket, Aurora and East Gwillimbury have committed to support All Inn! with the next two Smile Cookie campaigns, which will earn them naming rights to part of the project: the Tim Hortons Kitchen.
"It's really exciting for us. This is a big project and we need as much help as we can get. Having Tim Hortons as part of that effort is really important," said John Taylor, who is chair of the All Inn! capital campaign.
In previous years, proceeds from the cookies have supported Southlake Regional Health Centre, with $45,000 raised last year.
Across Canada, the Smile Cookie program has been going on for 25 years and has raised more than $75 million for charities all over the country.
"The Smile Cookie campaign has obviously been around for quite some time and has done incredible work in our community and the Tim Hortons stores, owners and employees, we owe them a lot of gratitude for that because they've done a lot to strengthen our community in many ways," Taylor said.
This year, Watson said she hopes the Smile Cookies will raise not just money but also awareness.
"It's so well known in the community to support different not-for-profits so it does double-duty: it raises funds but it also raises the profile of our project and Inn From The Cold and that's always a good thing," Watson said.
Taylor called on the community to find ways to support the project in any way they can. As of Sept. 19, that will be as easy as buying a cookie.
