RELEASE: Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign Brings Smiles To The Port Colborne & Wainfleet Community
( May30th, 2024 - PORT COLBORNE ) Smiles can be seen from coast to coast in Canada including along the easterly shores of Lake Erie thanks to the Tim Hortons 2024 Smile Cookie Campaign, which took place for the week of April 29th through May 5th at all participating Tim Hortons locations.
Today Port Colborne Tim Hortons owner Christine Strom Harper proudly presented Port Cares as the selected charity recipient, with $22,044 for 100% of proceeds from local cookie sales.
Port Colborne Tim Hortons store patrons at three separate locations purchased the iconic chocolate chunk cookies topped with pink and blue icing drawing out a smile in support of the Port Cares Reach Out Centre – the agency’s facility where food bank, hot meals, community navigation, crisis intervention and a school children’s lunch kit program are provided.
“Port Cares relies on fundraising and donations to operate its charitable services that focus on providing relief to families living in poverty conditions,” explains Port Cares CEO Christine Clark-Lafleur, “We continue to see increased demand for services because of the rising costs of living and lack of affordable housing. More than ever before as a result of these inflationary times we’re experiencing a growing gap between the donations we receive and the need for that support by low income households. Fundraising initiatives like the Smile Cookie Campaign are essential to our ability to provide help to families in need. We greatly appreciate this partnership and our volunteers have a lot of fun with it.”
Pictured in the photo with the giant Smile Cookie cheque in the amount of $22,044.35,are Christine Strom-Harper representing the Port Colborne location owners, alongside Port Cares Chief Executive Officer Christine Clark-Lafleur and Portcares Reach Out Centre Supervisor Meaghan Gallant.
Join the Smile Cookie Conversation
- Use the hashtag #SmileCookie
- Tag or follow us on Instagram @TimHortons & @PortCares
- Like us on Facebook Tim Hortons & Port Cares
- Visit www.timhortons.ca/smile-cookie for more information on the Smile Cookie campaign
Smile Cookie Campaign Facts
- Every year, Tim Hortons guests and restaurant owners across the country rally together behind the weeklong Smile Cookie campaign.
- Tim Hortons has been raising funds for local charities for over 25 years. Last year, Tim Hortons restaurants raised a record breaking $19.7 million for local charities and community groups, and $111 million raised since the program’s inception.
- Niagara & Area Tim Hortons raised over $425,000 for their selected charities.
Quick Facts About Port Cares & The Reach Out Centre:
Since1986, Port Cares has offered a multitude of services for people, young and old, not only in Port Colborne, but also across Niagara including Lincoln, West Lincoln, Welland, Pelham and Fort Erie. They offer housing loss prevention, employment training, a food bank, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, a meal program, utility assistance, counselling and crisis services - as well as seasonal programs like Give a Gift and more. Their services are wide-ranging - the need is undeniable.
- Port Cares Reach Out Centre (ROC) currently assists 1 in 8 Port Colborne residents. A third of the people reliant on the ROC food bank are children.
- The most needed food item donations for the food bank include canned meat, canned fruit, canned vegetables, pasta & sauce, peanut butter, cereal, jam, baby food, formula and diapers, personal hygiene items.
- Last year the Port Cares Reach Out Food Centre located at 61 Nickel Street, Port Colborne, provided over 3,100 lunch kits and more than 15,700 lunches to local school-age elementary and secondary school children who live in low-income households.
- Hot, nutritious community meals are served three times a week to families and individuals in need with more than 120 adults and children typically attending each meal.
Port Cares’ mission is to help those in our community with social and economic needs improve their quality of life. Port Cares’ vision is to provide help, hope and opportunity for all to achieve their potential.
