Dunnville tops Ontario, places second in Canada for cookie sales
HALDIMAND—A week of icing, cookies, and steady community support has added up to another strong Smile Cookie fundraiser across Haldimand County.
The annual Smile Cookie campaign saw Tim Hortons locations in Dunnville, Cayuga, Caledonia, Hagersville, and Jarvis support a range of community causes, with staff, volunteers, and customers all helping to keep the campaign moving.
In Dunnville, General Manager Deep Bains said their Tim Hortons sold 24,434 cookies through the week – about 1,000 cookies fewer than last year – with proceeds supporting the Dunnville Hospital and Healthcare Foundation (DHHF).
It has been confirmed that the Dunnville location achieved #2 in Canada and #1 in Ontario, raising just under $49,000.
CAYUGA—Lori Elgin of FirstOntario Credit Union (centre) joined Tim Hortons Managers JR Sarmiento and Debby Palma in celebrating their Smile Cookie sales progress, reaching a $21,000 goal. 
CALEDONIA—Many students from schools in Caledonia took time to decorate Smile Cookies to help support the breakfast program provided by Child Nutrition Network of Haldimand Norfolk REACH. 
CALEDONIA—Many students from schools in Caledonia took time to decorate Smile Cookies to help support the breakfast program provided by Child Nutrition Network of Haldimand Norfolk REACH. 
DUNNVILLE—MPP Bobbi Ann Brady (centre) joined Dunnville Hospital & Healthcare Foundation’s Rachel Schmalz, Executive Director, and Brad Spencer, Board Chair, to decorate cookies. 
DUNNVILLE—Brothers Chase and Bryce Schmalz at the ‘Small Hands Big Smiles’ cookie decorating event, decorating their own cookies at Tim Hortons. 
DUNNVILLE—Members of the Dunnville Rotary Club lent a hand decorating Smile Cookies during this year’s Tim Hortons campaign, helping drive the location to an outstanding finish of #2 in Canada and #1 in Ontario while raising more than $49,000 for the Dunnville Hospital and Healthcare Foundation. 
DUNNVILLE—The Dunnville Tim Hortons owners Bob and Cathy Noble and General Manager Deep Banes with Home Hardware Manager Don Kenney and DHHF Executive Director Rachel Schmalz.
“Everything was good,” Bains said.
Bains noted the effort was supported by volunteers arranged through the hospital, along with help from local residents and businesses. He said volunteers included representatives from Home Hardware, OPP officers, and members of the community.
He also thanked Dabitha from Original Foods and Michelle from Sweet Retro-Spect for their support of this year’s campaign.
Support remained strong for the campaign across the county.
Cayuga Tim Hortons Manager Debby Palma said their location sold 11,249 cookies this year, with proceeds going to the Children’s Nutrition Network to support schools in Cayuga.
Palma said this year’s total was up from last year, and that the Cayuga campaign received help from a wide range of volunteers, including FirstOntario Credit Union, members of the OPP, and Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley.
“We had lots of volunteers this year,” she said.
Palma said the store was grateful to everyone who helped make the campaign a success, from volunteers decorating cookies to customers buying them.
“They all came together this year. It was really good,” she said, adding thanks to the employees for their work selling cookies throughout the busy week.
Shaun Salverda, whose family owns the three Tim Hortons locations in Caledonia, one in Hagersville, and one in Jarvis, said his stores were still waiting on official sales numbers but had cookie totals available.
He said the three Caledonia stores sold about 5,200, 6,500, and 2,300 cookies. Salverda noted the third Caledonia location is new, having opened in the Avalon community just before Christmas.
The Hagersville Tim Hortons sold about 9,400 cookies, while in Jarvis the store sold more than 14,000 cookies.
Salverda said Jarvis finished first in its region for most cookies sold.
The Hagersville and Jarvis locations selected West Haldimand General Hospital (WHGH) as their charity, while the Caledonia stores supported local school breakfast programming provided by Child Nutrition Network of Haldimand Norfolk REACH.
Salverda said each school in Caledonia sent students to help decorate cookies, along with the principals.
He noted Jarvis and Hagersville had “a ton” of volunteers from WHGH as well. The Haldimand OPP visited each location, and the Hagersville Legion and “a lot more” groups helped out as well in the effort.
Across the local stores this year – which raised about $146,000 for local charities – managers pointed to the same factor behind the campaign’s success: community participation. From volunteers who decorated cookies to customers who bought them by the box, the campaign relied on local support to turn a simple treat into funding for community programs.
Across the country, that support resulted in a record-breaking $23.3 million raised.
For Palma, the local efforts each showed what can happen when residents, staff, and volunteers work together.
“We’re thankful for their help,” she said.
