Cookie campaign gives 3 Sudbury charities $218K reasons to smile

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Sudbury celebs, leaders decorate cookies for charities

Smile Cookies support Sudbury charities

Representatives from three charities in the Greater Sudbury area had reason to celebrate on Wednesday as the results of the annual Smile Cookie campaign were announced – with a total of $218,885.73 raised over just one week.

The funds, collected between April 27 and May 3, will be split among the Health Sciences North Foundation, the Sudbury Food Bank and the CTV Lions Children’s Christmas Telethon. More than two dozen Tim Hortons restaurants, owned by approximately 18 franchisees, across Greater Sudbury participated in the national campaign to raise money for local charities.

Health Sciences North Foundation

Giulia Carpenter, manager of community engagement and event fundraising for the Health Sciences North Foundation, said the money will address urgent needs at the hospital.

“The wonderful funds that we raised through Smile Cookie campaign will assist in priority equipment that we need at the hospital,” Carpenter said.

“In the past, we’ve had money going towards MRI, PET scanners and various programs that are priority items at the hospital.”

Sudbury Food Bank

Natalie Labbée, executive director of the Sudbury Food Bank, noted that the donation comes at a traditionally lean time of year.

“This time of the year, our warehouse is looking pretty empty, especially after the Edgar Burton Food Drive – that’s our big push for the end of the year,” Labbée said.

CTV Lions Children’s Christmas Telethon

Sam Khoury, chairperson of the CTV Lions Children’s Christmas Telethon, emphasized the campaign’s critical role in the telethon’s success.

“Without the Tim Horton’s Smile Cookies and the owners of Tim Horton’s we can not make the telethon (total). At least 30 per cent of the money comes to the telethon from the smile cookies in Sudbury,” Khoury said.

“Sudburians, thank you so much for supporting us, supporting the telethon and any other organization in the Sudbury area.”

The Smile Cookie campaign, which runs annually at Tim Hortons locations across Canada, directs proceeds from each specially decorated cookie sold to local charities chosen by individual franchise owners.

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