Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign returns for hospital foundation

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FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The long-standing Tim Hortons Smile Cookie fundraising campaign is returning to Fort St. John this month.

All the funds raised from the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign, beginning on April 28th, will go to the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation.

The foundation focuses on acquiring essential hospital equipment and improving the patient experience at the Fort St. John hospital to reduce the amount of residents who have to travel outside the Peace region to receive the medical care they need.

Community giving and event coordinator Emily-May Olson told Energeticcity.ca last year’s event raised over $14,000 for the foundation, selling 9,430 cookies.

“We’ve been lucky to be associated with this campaign for the last 20 years from Tim Hortons. In that time, there’s been over $100,000 contributed to the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation. And it’s probably one of our most fun campaigns. It’s very light-hearted,” Olson said.

Olson says this year’s campaign will feature a new type of cookie — a softer chocolate chunk cookie with the iconic smile cookie frosting.

“It’s actually more delicious. It’s more of a home-cooked cookie. I’ve been told by the Tim Hortons people that it is absolutely amazing,” Olson said.

The foundation is focusing on encouraging local businesses to pre-order boxes of cookies for the campaign, and Olson says some businesses have already stepped up to the challenge.

“We’ve actually had a few businesses step up to pay it forward and buy cookies for entire student bodies. That’s something that we’re really wanting to foster,” Olson said.

“Fort St. John loves to pay it forward and getting to showcase what the businesses are doing for our schools or our other nonprofits is our focus. That and spreading smiles.”

The foundation is also challenging residents and businesses to hold cookie-eating challenges for the cause. Suggested match-ups include: RCMP vs. Firefighters, students against teachers and managers vs. staff.

The cookie campaign will run until May 4th. Find out more about the campaign and get your pre-orders in by clicking here.