The 2020 results of the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign are in and they’re sweeter than ever.

The one-week campaign, which ran from Sept. 14 to Sept. 20 raised $7,401 for the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF), the best Smile Cookie result raised locally in Prince Edward County to-date- well over $1,000 more than was raised in 2019.

“I’ve found anything that’s attached to the public for raising money or awareness for (PECMH) everybody seems to reach into their pocket or go through their ashtrays and find that extra quarter or whatever change so they can buy a smile cookie,” said Paul Massey, owner of Picton and Wellington Tim Hortons.

“$7,401 is what the Smile Cookie Campaign raised for the year 2020 so thank you to the community for that and their continued support.” Both the Picton and Wellington restaurants designated the proceeds of their $1 chocolate chunk cookie sales to the PECMH Foundation for the seventh consecutive year. Overall, there were 1,178 more Smile Cookies sold in 2020 than in 2019. This year’s Smile Cookie campaign pushes Tim Hortons cumulative giving to $42,992.

“Tim Hortons has been a donor of ours for over 18 years now,” expressed Shannon Coull, executive director with the PECMHF at Tuesday’s campaign announcement. “Over the 18 years we’ve received donations through various fundraising initiatives under your (Massey) vision and leadership and with the help of your team at both the Wellington site and the Picton site. For the past seven consecutive years we’ve been the recipient of the Smile Cookie Campaign and over those seven years we have received close to $43,000, and that’s through the Smile Cookie Campaign as well as other fundraising initiatives like the coffee card at the fair. It’s just a wonderful experience for us and a partnership that just keeps on evolving and we’re so grateful.”

Between the Picton and Wellington Tim Horton sites, a friendly competition was held between staff members to see which store can raise the most money.

“We have a little friendly competition between the two stores,” Massey stated. “And Wellington being the smaller store, they pretty well did close to half of what the donation was, so they really stepped in. And more single cookies sold at the Wellington location where as Picton was more of a dozen or half a dozen cookies at a time being ordered. The little store that could, it grew and supported the cause which is awesome!”

Massey also announced that Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign raised funds will continue to be turned over to the hospital in future years as everybody in this community will use PECMH in their lives at one time or another.

Barbara McConnell, chairperson of the PECMH Foundation, expressed her sincere thanks to Massey and his team of employees for their work last week.

“Your donations enhance our capacity, beyond the level generated by our tax dollars, to care for patients right here in the County. The Foundation’s job is to raise the funds needed to ensure our care providers and the hospital are equipped to provide the best care for our patients. The Foundation plays a critical role in providing funding for essential, specialized equipment. Your dollars go a long way towards improving care for residents in our community who need treatment, close to home. Thank you to Paul Massey, the staff at Tim Hortons and to all our amazing donors for their positive support of our hospital. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference in the care you and your family receive,” said McConnell. “We are blessed to live in this generous community which ensures we have a vibrant hospital armed with the best medical equipment possible.”

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation is a charitable organization whose mission is to raise money to advance health care for the patients of the hospital and the people of Prince Edward County.

For more information on PECMHF please visit www.pecmhf.ca

For more information on the Smile Cookie Campaign please visit company.timhortons.com/ca/en/corporate/smile-cookies-2017.php