THUNDER BAY – Smile Cookies are back and expected to make a lot of dough for two worthy Thunder Bay charities.
Tim Hortons annual week-long fundraising campaign returned to local outlets on Monday morning, the local franchisees doubling down on the number of causes this year, adding the George Jeffrey Children’s Foundation to the traditional Toys for Tots program.
Brent Prepp, who owns four Tim Hortons locations, said all the proceeds from the sale of the $1 cookies will be donated to the two charities, adding last year’s campaign raised about $45,000.
“We’re just hoping to make a positive impact on even more lives in Thunder Bay this year,” said Prepp, interviewed at his Waterloo Street location.
The decision to double up just made sense, he added.
“We just felt that they both support children in the community and we figured adding another charity might drive more sales and give back more to the community.”
George Jeffrey Children’s Foundation executive director Steve MacDonald said he was thrilled to get the call, and spent the morning volunteering to decorate the chocolate chip cookies with blue-dotted eyes and friendly pink smiles.
“We’re incredibly grateful. We’ve had a tremendous relationship with Tim Hortons for well over a decade now. So for us to align with Smile Cookies is an extra special treat for us,” MacDonald said. “And to be doing it alongside Toys for Tots is extra special as well, because through our efforts we’re helping children either in need or with special needs.
“And in many cases it will be children benefiting from both charities.”
The sheer number of cookies sold says a lot about the generosity of the community, he added.
“We have a wonderful, very giving community and we see it through the support of Toys for Tots and we see it through the support of the George Jeffrey Children’s Foundation help increase access to specialized care. And it shows what the ownership group of the Tim Hortons franchises does for the community too,” MacDonald said.
The Smile Cookie campaign runs through Sunday.
