Tim Hortons across Canada are launching the first Holiday Smile Cookie campaign Nov. 13 to 19.
For the Tim Hortons in Midland and Penetanguishene, 100 per cent of the proceeds of the cookies will be split 50/50 between Tim Hortons Foundation Camps and the Georgian Bay Food Network (GBFN).
Holiday Smile Cookies are white chocolate chip sugar cookies with red and green sprinkles with a smiley face crafted from icing. They will sell for $1.50, up from the traditional $1.
Aiding the Tims Camps was decided by the company, said Sid Beelen, director of operations for the Tim Hortons in Penetanguishene and three of the four Tim Hortons in Midland. The local recipient of the other 50 per cent was decided by local Tim Hortons franchise owners, he said.
Joanne Smith owns the Tim Hortons in Penetanguishene and the ones in Midland on Bay Street, King Street and Highway 12. Kim Trude owns the Tim Hortons in Midland on Highway 93.
Trude is a relatively new owner and said she took the direction of Smith, who choose the GBFN as the local recipient of campaign proceeds.
"She gave us all the information and we were definitely on board," said Trude.
Beelen added, "It's near the holidays when people might be in need, so it's a good time to get extra change in their (GBFN's) pocket,"
"It's incredible," said Alex Hamelin, executive director of the GBFN, a new type of food bank where customers shop for foods they want. Just into its second year of operation, it is serving 1,500 households per month, for a total of more than 3,500 individuals.
"This will make all the difference in the world for us to buy fresh produce, items that people don't generally donate, as well as it will go toward our Christmas dinner packages for each of the families," said Hamelin.
The Holiday Smile Cookie campaign was tested in western Canada last year, said Beelen, and it's going nationwide this year.
The spring Smile Cookie campaign has been going for more than 25 years and has raised $111 million for charities and community groups, according to a Tim Hortons press release.
“We decided there’s no better time than the holiday season to continue this tradition in a new way," said Hope Bagozzi, chief marketing officer at Tim Hortons. "We’re excited that Holiday Smile Cookies will also support Tim Hortons Foundation Camps, which since 1974 has supported over 315,000 youth at its seven Tims Camps. We know our guests across Canada will be thrilled to help us support the spirit of kindness this holiday season.”
