Greater Victoria Tim Hortons restaurant owners, staff and patrons can celebrate booking access to health care for Island kids – by buying cookies.
The annual smile cookie campaign during the first week of May raised $78,285.53 for the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island to support Jeneece Place – a home away from home for Island families to stay close to their children who are accessing health care in Victoria.
“This is a record-breaking donation from Tim Hortons franchisees across Greater Victoria … and we are thrilled and immensely grateful,” said foundation CEO Veronica Carroll.
“Because of Tim Hortons and everyone who bought a delicious chocolate chunk Smile Cookie, Jeneece Place continues to keep families together and close by when children are in the hospital.”
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This year’s campaign included Smile Cookie-eating contests featuring Tim Hortons staff versus managers and widespread community participation.
Volunteer cookie decorators included BC Highway Patrol RCMP, Victoria Grizzlies, Langford Fire Rescue, Pacific FC, Saanich Fire Department, Saanich Police Department, Sidney Volunteer Fire Department, Sidney/North Saanich RCMP, VicPD and the Victoria Royals with special guest Marty the Marmot.
“These elements all contributed to the outstanding success of Smile Cookie week this year,” Carroll said. “We congratulate our Tim Hortons owners, managers, and staff teams on a fantastic week, with a special shout out to the restaurant at 2950 Douglas St. for selling more Smile Cookies than any other restaurant on the Island.”
In Greater Victoria, 23 shops have pledged 100 per cent of the proceeds of the annual Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign to Jeneece Place since the home opened in 2012. Over the past 10 years the Smile Cookie campaign has raised $440,885.53 for Jeneece Place.
Located on the Victoria General Hospital grounds in View Royal, families can stay at an extreme low cost in the 10-bedroom home that features kitchen, dining, living and playrooms, plus a backyard where kids can feel at home. It has hosted 2,760 families since opening in 2012.