A simple cookie once again made a big impact in Saugeen Shores and this year, there was an exciting goal to rally around.
From April 27th to May 3rd, local Tim Hortons restaurants in Southampton and Port Elgin served up their crowd-pleasing Smile Cookies, with 100 percent of proceeds supporting the Saugeen Shores Hospital Foundation.
This year however, the community was invited to take part in the 10,000 Smile Cookie, a Community Challenge to purchase 10,000 Smile Cookies during the campaign week in support of local healthcare.
Each year, the chocolate chunk cookie, topped with its signature pink-and-blue smile, represents more than just a sweet treat. It’s a chance for the community to come together and support local healthcare, helping ensure patients and families continue to receive high-quality care close to home.
Behind every cookie is a much bigger story. Across the region, the five local Brightshores Health System hospital foundations are working together to help fund more than $14 million in equipment and infrastructure needs this year, supporting care across multiple hospital sites. Campaigns such as Smile Cookie play an important role in making that possible.
“Not only did the community reach the goal of 10,000 cookies, it surpassed it with more than 13,000 cookies purchased raising more than $27,000!” said Hospital Foundation Executive Director, Tracy Murray. “It’s incredible how this community comes to together in support of health care. Together, we continue to turn smiles into meaningful impact, one cookie at a time.”
“We are so grateful to be part of something that brings out the very best in our community,” said Tracy Murray, Executive Director of the Saugeen Shores Hospital Foundation. “This year’s 10,000 Smile Cookie, One Community Challenge was a fun and meaningful way for everyone to get involved. Every cookie sold is always a reminder that when people come together, even in small ways, it adds up to something incredibly meaningful for healthcare in our community and across the region.”
Funds raised through the campaign help support priority equipment needs, directly enhancing patient care for residents across Saugeen Shores and surrounding communities, while contributing to the broader system of care across the region.
The Smile Cookie campaign has become a cherished annual tradition, made possible through the generosity of local Tim Hortons owners, staff, and volunteers who dedicate their time to decorate each cookie by hand.
