By Cecilia Nasmith
A record $30,910 was raised in the 2018 Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign last month in support of Ed's House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre.
Honouring The Journey Campaign co-chairs Gord and Patti Ley made the announcement this week in a jubilant press release.
The Leys were absolutely thrilled with the show of support, extending thanks to local Tim Hortons owners John and Kim Meeussen and Ron and Jeri Joyce and staff – not to mention a tremendous team of volunteers who lent a hand at each Tim Hortons location.
Smile Cookie Week was Sept. 17 to 23, a time when all proceeds from the sales of specially created Smile Cookies support local charities. The cookies are $1 each and, nationwide, their sale raised $7.8-million in support of more than 500 charities.
In Port Hope, Cobourg and Colborne Tim Hortons shops, all proceeds went to Ed's House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre.
Community Care Northumberland executive director Trish Baird said her agency is overwhelmed by the generosity of the community in supporting the $9.3-million project to build Ed's House, a hospice hub that will provide around-the-clock residential hospice care at no cost to those receiving the service (along with housing current community hospice programs and outreach services).
The two-level building will be constructed in Hamilton Township on Ontario Street across from Oliver's Lane. It will include 10 hospice-care suites, six operational by the time Ed's House opens its doors and four to be brought into service at a future date. The lower level will offer education and support services for the community.
Baird noted that, along with the financial support, Community Care is grateful for the chance the Smile Cookie initiative offered to get their hospice services (and Honouring The Journey Campaign) out in front of the public.
“We have been able to increase the awareness for this exciting project to build a hospice-care centre supporting people with life-limiting illnesses and their families, both in the community and in Ed's House,” she said.
