It was smiles all around Tuesday morning for health-care providers in the Kingston area, as it was revealed that the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign had its best result ever! After last year’s record sales generated $192,945 in contributions, the 2023 campaign yielded a new mark with $230,085, with funds earmarked for Child and Youth Mental Health at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC).

These funds will help provide patient supplies, therapeutic resources, activities, and
other programs to assist vulnerable patients.

“This is going to go a long way,” says Nicholas Axas, Program Operational Director, Mental Health and Addiction Care at KHSC. “It means a lot knowing that these delicious cookies and the Kingston community came through once again.”

Indeed, the celebrated Smile Cookie campaign moved to the spring with a May 1-7 run in 2023 across Canada. The iconic chocolate chunk cookies topped with a smile were available at locations throughout the Kingston area, with franchise owners, staff and of course customers pulling together for this record-breaking effort.

“Kingston came out strong,” says Tim Hortons restaurant owner Sherri Agnew. “Without the tremendous support from our community, other Tim Hortons owners, and our staff the campaign would not happen.”

This is the 20th year that the local Tim Hortons have designated the proceeds of Smile Cookie Week to KHSC. In that time the Smile Cookie campaign has raised over $1 million for the KHSC Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and other children’s programs.

“This money, it really helps families,” says Rae Brackenbury, whose family has benefitted from care through the Child and Youth Mental Health program. “You don’t realize it until it hits you at home.”