Smile Cookie campaign raises record funds for Hamilton Food Share and Food4Kids charities

Hamilton | Ontario | Food | Lifestyle | Success Stories |

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Published October 27, 2021 at 4:07 pm

Tim Hortons restaurants raised more than $12 million across Canada, with Hamilton Food Share and Food4Kids Hamilton receiving $259,002.

It was a record-setting week for the latest Smile Cookie campaign.

Tim Hortons restaurants raised more than $12 million across Canada, with Hamilton Food Share and Food4Kids Hamilton receiving $259,002.

The funds this year from Smile Cookie week will be used to help local food banks, hot meal programs, and student nutrition programs.

“We couldn’t do what we do without the hard work of each and every Tim Hortons team member and the Hamilton community for rallying behind Smile Cookie week,” said Joanne Santucci, CEO of Hamilton Food Share. “We sincerely hope you know that it means the world to us and most importantly, to the children and families we serve. You have helped ensure children living in poverty can eat, it’s as simple as that.”

Last year, Hamilton Food Share distributed nearly 4.4 million pounds of food to 23 hunger relief programs.

“Every weekend we feed 1350 kids in Hamilton,” said Cathy Haan, Executive Director at Food4Kids Hamilton. “The success of the Smile Cookie Campaign is a huge reason why we continue to ensure no child goes hungry in Hamilton. We are so thankful to our volunteers that helped decorate cookies, our community for supporting the campaign and of course the generosity and sincere kindness of Tim Hortons restaurant owners and their hardworking teams.”

Food4Kids Hamilton provides packages of nutritious food for 1,350 elementary and secondary school students with little or no access to food during the weekend and summer months. Their “Weekends Without Hunger” program operates within 72 schools in Hamilton.

The Smile Cookie program started in 1996 and raised funds for Hamilton Children’s Hospital. Twenty-five years later, the annual charitable campaign has now raised a total of more than $77 million for charities selected every year by restaurant owners.

In 2020, the Smile Cookie campaign raised $10.56 million across Canada.

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