Smile, you’re helping a great cause
When Tim’s Horton’s latest Smile Cookie campaign kicked off this week, few crews across the country were as enthusiastic about it as the staff at the Kelligrews location on Conception Bay South Highway.
The Kelligrews store has picked the NL Down Syndrome Society as the beneficiary for the proceeds raised from the sale of Smile cookies this year. The stores on Legion Road and Manuels Road have too.
Across the country, over 600 charities and community groups receive $1.50 from every Smile Cookie sold, totaling $19.7 million just last year alone.
Emma Harvey, the special events coordinator with the NL Down Syndrome Society, spent the last few weeks working behind the scenes getting everything and everyone ready for the annual event. Harvey’s stepsister Katie Lush has Down syndrome.
“I’ve had a lot of members volunteer to decorate cookies,” Harvey said at the official kickoff at the Kelligrews store on Tuesday. “We’re really excited to be chosen as the Smile Cookie campaign fundraiser. It’s super exciting and it’s a great opportunity.”
The NL Down Syndrome Society offers a number of services and supports for individuals and families including speech therapy, occupational therapy, community activities, and fundraiser events like the Smile Cookie campaign.
“The society is so important,” said Harvey.
Tim Hortons co-franchisee Shawnessey Gallagher said he is looking forward to another successful campaign. In previous years, the CBS stores have supported the local food bank, softball associations, the Parkinson’s Society, and the Gathering Place, among other worthy groups.
“We need everyone's support,” said Gallagher. “Come on down and buy a cookie. It all stays here in the province and here in the community. As the campaign grows with the support of all our guests, we’re able to make that much bigger of an impact to each one of these organizations every year.”
This year’s campaign strikes home especially for long-time Tim Horton’s employee Arlene Cleary, who’s 11-year-old daughter Kate has Down syndrome.
“Every $1.50 counts,” she said. “I’m very excited to see where this campaign leads us at the end of it. Our children need so many supports and as a family it can be very costly.”
Harvey is looking forward to the Society’s annual summer camp, which is seeing its first iteration since the pandemic.
“We’re just going to have a really fun time there. Everyone comes together,” she said.
Society regulars Daniel Horn and Luke Kennedy helped decorate the cookies.
“It was hard to do but we did good,” Kennedy said.
Chad Feehan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Shoreline News
