There are many smiles at St. Clair Child & Youth Services after a recent fundraiser brought in over $44,000 to support mental health services.
This year's Smile Cookie campaign with Sarnia and Bright’s Grove Tim Hortons locations raised $44,509. The campaign was held in mid-September.
"This donation couldn’t have come at a better time for our agency or for the kids and families in our community," said Interim Executive Director Craig McKenzie in an emailed statement. "The funds raised through this campaign will go directly toward ensuring that infants, children, and youth have quick access to mental health services when they need it.
McKenzie said funds raised will also allow the organization to increase support for the parents and caregivers of children who are facing mental health issues.
"Our gratitude goes out to Tim Hortons, the local owners, and the thousands of people in our community who purchased their Smile Cookie this year in support of child and youth mental health," said McKenzie.
The amount raised this year slightly surpasses the total raised in 2020, when a record $44,461 was raised to support Pathways Health Centre for Children.
A new record was also set on a national scale after the Smile Cookie campaign across the country raised more than $12 million.
The Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital Foundation also accepted a donation this month through the Smile Cookie campaign. The Petrolia Tim Hortons location raised $8,013 for the foundation.
"Funds from the Petrolia Tim Horton’s Smile Cookie campaign has been benefiting the CEEH Foundation for several years, with this year’s donation being the largest to date," read a Facebook post. "Money from this year’s campaign will go towards the CEEH Capital Redevelopment Project."