THUNDER BAY – Brent Prepp says everyone can use more smiles in 2020.
He’s ready to start handing them out.
Prepp, a Thunder Bay Tim Hortons franchisee, on Monday helped kick off the annual Smile Cookie campaign, proceeds of which will be donated to a pair of local charities, the Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters’ Toys for Tots campaign and the George Jeffrey Children’s Foundation.
Last year local Tim Hortons outlets sold 73,000 cookies, donating an equal amount of money split between the two organizations, and Prepp said they hope to sell as many or more this year, despite the challenges of COVID-19.
“We usually have a little more help from the firefighters and George Jeffrey to get volunteers into the back of the house to decorate and bake,” Prepp said.
“Obviously during COVID it’s going to be a little bit more challenging. We have to limit it to one person in the kitchen, basically, at a time and we’ve got to follow all the protocols – the masks, the gloves, the hand-washing and the temperature taking.”
The staff is definitely up to the task, Prepp said.
“We’ve changed the process a little bit. We’re doing what I’ll call a cookie factory at one of my other locations that doesn’t bake at night and basically that store is just baking cookies and decorating all night long,” he said.
Firefighter Ryan Currie said he’s hopeful the Toys for Tots program isn’t too affected by the pandemic and they’re able to get into Intercity Shopping Centre and collect donations as they do every year to help ensure children in need wake up Christmas morning with presents under the tree.
A solid Smile Cookie campaign would help the cause even further, especially during uncertain times.
“It’s a great kick-starter for us. It’s roughly 25 per cent of our annual donations just from the event alone from this week. With the uncertainty from COVID, we’re not really sure. So this will really help us get things going,” Currie said.
Last year Toys for Tots raised about $134,000, a number they’d like to hit again in 2020.
Tina Bennett, chief executive officer at the George Jeffrey Children’s Centre, said the money is key to them being able to offer their services to children with developmental and physical difficulties.
“It’s a great initiative to help us expand our programs and services, offering new level of specialized care,” Bennett said. “This year we’re really focusing on that expansion of service and access to care for children and families, to be able to provide more services to more families in a more timely way.”
Bennett said COVID has brought with it a number of added expensse, and while the province has picked up much of the cost, every little bit helps.
Smile Cookies are available for $1 throughout the week at all Thunder Bay Tim Hortons outlets.
