If you bought a smile cookie from Tim Hortons in September, that smile has extended to the faces of volunteers and guests at The Table Soup Kitchen Foundation.
The annual campaign, which ran locally from September 14-20, raised $12,646 in support of The Table’s programs and services.
“[The Table] does such great work in the community and serves so many people,” says Jennifer McFadyen, co-owner with her husband Morgan of Huntsville’s four Tim Hortons locations. “We felt this year especially the need would be even greater for so many people. We wanted to reach as many people as we could.”
“It’s a challenging time for so many people out there,” adds Morgan. “It’s not a great year on so many levels and we’re just thrilled that the community rallied together to come up with some extra funds to purchase smile cookies and give back to The Table.”
This year’s campaign was the best they’ve had in Huntsville, notes Jennifer, adding that their staff really pulled together to produce the more than 12,000 cookies sold. Across Canada, the campaign raised more than $10.5 million and supported more than 550 charities.
The first smile cookie campaign took place in Hamilton in 1996 and spread from there. It has run in Huntsville almost from the start, says Jennifer, whose father brought Tim Hortons to Huntsville 37 years ago.
“[The Smile Cookie campaign] is our second biggest fundraiser outside of Camp Day,” says Morgan. That campaign, which was delayed from the usual June timing to August, was strong this year as well, he adds, and they hope to have as much community support next year to help disadvantaged kids attend Tim Hortons Foundation Camps post-pandemic.
“We are so thankful,” says Heather Cassie, founder and CEO of The Table Soup Kitchen Foundation. “[Tim Hortons staff and the community] are doing it because they care and want to put a smile on other people’s faces, namely our guests at The Table… we are so grateful.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Table had to make adjustments to how it serves its clients—the soup kitchen is now takeout and they are limiting the number of people in the food bank at one time, which meant they had to extend their hours to accommodate everyone.
The organization is now gearing up for the holiday season and, in addition to accepting regular donations of food, goods, and funds, is looking for businesses or individuals interested in sponsoring a family for Christmas.
For more information about The Table’s programs and services and how to either access them or donate, visit thetablefoundation.ca.
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Lesley Hastie says
Thank you Jennifer and Morgan, and thank you to Heather Berg for your heroic efforts to feed and clothe our most vulnerable residents, and to provide shelter for homeless men.