Holiday Smile Cookies are back at Tim Hortons from Nov. 18 to 24, and in Gravenhurst, each sale supports Tim Hortons Foundation Camps and the local Salvation Army food bank.
The holiday treats are white-chocolate sugar cookies with red and green sprinkles baked inside, finished with a white frosting smile. They cost $1.50 each, and all proceeds in Gravenhurst will be split between the Salvation Army and Tims Camps. The two Tim Hortons locations in Gravenhurst have dedicated their regular Smile Cookie campaign to local schools over the last few years, but the food bank has been a consistent choice for their holiday efforts.
“We chose it because we know they help a ton of people this time of year,” said general manager Kristina Brownlee. “We know there’s a lot of people in this community that benefit from the food bank, especially around Christmas time.”
Brownlee encourages locals to get the word out by talking with their loved ones and sharing online posts. Buying a Smile Cookie is a fast, easy and affordable way to give back, and pre-order forms for larger orders are available at both Gravenhurst locations.
The Tim Hortons team raised $3,050 for the Salvation Army last year, so she’s hopeful that people will show up for the cause and help them raise their goal of $5,000. Along with feeding families during the holidays, supporting Smile Cookie helps send kids, possibly even kids from Muskoka, to camp.
“It’s a great experience,” she said. “They choose local people as well. We’ve had a couple of people from the schools go.”
Part of what helps the local campaigns succeed is the assistance they get in decorating cookies. Volunteers from the Salvation Army often help out, and the franchises are offering volunteer hours to team members who are still in school.
The Tim Hortons staff is happy to welcome anyone who wants to get involved in decorating. No matter how the smile gets on the cookie, it all contributes to making more holiday magic in Muskoka.
“It’s huge to see the people that have benefitted from it,” Brownlee said, mentioning the playgrounds they’ve seen built and expanded from Smile Cookie funds. “We did go to the Salvation Army Food Bank last year. I went with [former franchise operator] Ashley, we got to see everything in there and it was awesome.”
Emily Gribbin, community outreach coordinator at the Gravenhurst Salvation Army, said her team is ready to return the favour by visiting Tim Hortons during the event. “We will definitely be by to decorate some cookies!”
The money they receive from the Holiday Smile Cookie fundraiser will go toward programming such as the food bank, clothing vouchers, Christmas hampers, camp and their back-to-school initiative. Gribbin said they want to extend their gratitude to the team at Gravenhurst Tim Hortons as well as the neighbours that come out to show their support.
“It means a lot to us to be chosen multiple times and be recognized by the community,” she said. “It truly is an honour.”
To support the Gravenhurst Salvation Army Food Bank and Tims Camps through the Holiday Smile Cookie campaign, visit the Gravenhurst Tim Hortons locations at 150 Talisman Drive and 2329 Highway 11 South from Nov. 18 to 24.
