ESTEVAN — Estevan finished first in Saskatchewan and eighth overall in Canada for funds raised through the annual Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign.
Estevan Tim Hortons franchise owners Ryan and Mandy Irwin presented a cheque for $50,046 to the Estevan Early Years Family Resource Centre (EEYFRC) and the Estevan Public Youth Centre (EPYC) on May 13. The money will be split between the two non-profits, both of which have a positive impact on local families.
Misty Pennington, the director of programs and community engagement with the EEYFRC, said they were "incredibly grateful" for the support, as she said the entire community was buying cookies and supporting them.
She noted the Irwins went along with all of her ideas to help promote the campaign, and the couple has been so great to work with. The EEYFRC was also the beneficiary of last year's campaign.
"Anything we asked them to do, they were willing to do, and it was a great experience to be able to mentor them through the process," said Pennington.
Prior to the campaign, Pennington had a $50,000 fundraising goal, which she knew was lofty, and she's "ecstatic" they hit the objective.
In addition to people purchasing smile cookies, Pennington said they had daily matching donors. Classroom sponsors provided cookies to local school students for $50 per class.
"We were able to sponsor all of the classrooms in Estevan, Alameda, Macoun, Lampman," said Pennington.
People took pictures enjoying their cookies and tagged the family centre. One lucky person won a $50 gift card, and a colouring contest was held through the schools, day cares, the family centre and online.
"We encouraged the kids to bring their coloured sheets to the Tim Hortons location in the hopes that they would also purchase a cookie," said Pennington.
The funds for the EEYFRC will go to programs for the six to 11 years age group, or anything that doesn't fall within their pillars for kids ages zero to five.
Bonnie Chepil-Kvamme and Maisy Daoust marvelled at the support for the campaign. Chepil-Kvamme said it was a lot of work, but people were so generous.
"The community of Estevan's overwhelming support, in general, with the purchase of the cookies, was so amazing," said Chepil-Kvamme.
She never imagined that $50,000 was a possibility. She hoped the Smile Cookie campaign would match last year's total of roughly $46,000.
Young people promoted the campaign through videos in front of a window created by Mercedes Symons and decorated with smile cookies. A gift card was awarded to the winner of the contest. Chepil-Kvamme and Daoust went to different businesses and corporations, asking for support and handing out pre-orders for cookies.
At the end, as a thank you to the Irwins, EPYC went to both the King Street and Fourth Street Tim's locations and joined Jessie Smoliak's physical education students from the Estevan Comprehensive School to clean the parking lot.
Chepil-Kvamme said Pennington and EEYFRC executive director Sydney Wanner were "amazing" to work with.
"They schooled us quite well and welcomed us aboard, and assigned us some tasks, which EPYC took on without any question," said Chepil-Kvamme.
Daoust said this reinforces her knowledge that Estevan is an incredible community. Volunteers were eager to decorate cookies, and the Irwins allowed them to be part of the fundraising. Chepil-Kvamme and Daoust both spent time decorating cookies.
"It was just a very unique and cool experience. Bonnie and I come from our education backgrounds, so this was something that was very outside of our realm. We've done other fundraisers and smaller-scale fundraisers, so being part of something so amazing and so huge was so cool to experience.
The money will allow EPYC to keep the doors open and will support programs, including materials, supplies and facilitator fees. It will also help purchase healthy snacks for the youths and sports equipment, and cover the cost of swimming at the pool and renting their building.
Mandy Irwin said this year’s Smile Cookie Campaign was the most successful to date and that is due to "our incredible community" showing up in full force. Support has made a "powerful impact".
Mandy Irwin said the volunteers went above and beyond, and Tim Hortons is "endlessly grateful" for the energy, time and love poured into the campaign.
The Tim Hortons team rose to the occasion and gave their all, Irwin said.
"This is what community looks like. This is what collaboration can do. Thank you, Estevan," wrote Irwin.
The 2025 Smile Cookie Campaign earned $22.6 million franchise-wide, she said, a record-breaking year with every cent going back into the communities.
Over the past five years alone, Estevan has raised upwards of $170,000, she said.
"This is an incredible number for the size of our community and we are so thankful to have the support that we do."
Tim Hortons is currently looking for recipients for the Holiday Smile Cookie Campaign in November. Details will be shared on the Tim Hortons Estevan Facebook page in the coming days for the application process. Prospective organizations can email [email protected].
