More than 135,000 reasons to smile

The 2024 Smile Cookie campaign raised more than $135,000 in support of Brant Food For Thought and Lansdowne Children’s Center Foundation.

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“Community support is critical to the ongoing success of our child and youth recreation programs at Lansdowne,” Jennifer White, the foundation’s executive director, said in a prepared statement.

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“The Every Kid Counts program is not government funded, and it’s only with the help of generous donations like the funds raised with Smile Cookies that we’re able to provide support workers at no cost to families.”

Thanks to efforts like the Smile Cookie campaign, children and youth with special needs have the opportunity to attend camps and community programs with their peers, White said.

The demand for services continues to rise with the growth in Brantford and Brant County’s population.

White said the Every Kid Counts program offered by Lansdowne has expanded to welcome more children and youth from a broader age range in response to the greater need, but with expansion comes costs.

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“Smile Cookie participation has made a significant contribution to our annual budget, and we’re so grateful for the support and partnership of this community, and all our participating Tim Hortons restaurant owners,” White said. They’re just the best.”

A local not-for-profit, Brant Food For Thought, provides health meals for children attending school. The Smile Cookie campaign has helped food for thought grow and serve the needs of children throughout the community.

“Since 2019, Smile Cookie has generated over $600,000 in contributions and with that we have been able to grow by over 40%, reaching nearly every school in the region,” Gisele Budgell, the not-for-profit’s executive director, said. “We are currently supporting over 11,000 students weekly.”

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The program projects serving 1.3 million breakfasts and snacks this school year alone.

Donations from the campaign have enabled food for thought to purchase and install critical equipment in school settings, including double-door coolers to provide proper refrigeration for fresh produce, white milk and other perishable foods.

“The schools are delighted,” Budgell said. “It has been an incredible investment, and we want to thank all the Tim Hortons owners.

“This community in particular really gets behind the Smile Cookie campaign and it has been awesome for our organization.”

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