The Sooke Transition House Society (STHS) is used to putting smiles on faces – now they're putting them on cookies.
As Tim Hortons undertakes its annual Smile Cookie campaign, the two Sooke locations have partnered with STHS to raise funds for the local non-profit.
The primary goal of STHS is to support women and children affected by gender-based violence. In recent years, STHS has seen a "dramatic increase" in the need for its services following the COVID-19 pandemic, and it does not expect that to slow anytime soon.
Since its founding in 1994, STHS has assisted thousands of women and children, helping 1,000 individuals in 2023 alone.
With provincial funding insufficient to keep all its programs operational, STHS frequently turns to funding alternatives such as the Tim's Smile Cookie campaign.
"Each year, Tim Hortons holds Cookie Week at its 4,000 locations across Canada. Sooke Transition House Society was thrilled to be 'adopted' as Tim Hortons' local charity at both Tim Hortons restaurants in Sooke," said Laurie Parsons, interim executive director of STHS.
The Tim's Smile Cookie campaign first began in 1996 as an effort to raise funds for the Hamilton Children's Hospital in Ontario. Since then, it has grown to support more than 600 local charities and organizations in communities across Canada. Through the campaign, 100 per cent of proceeds from each joyously decorated chocolate chunk cookie sold support local organizations like STHS.
"These proceeds will help us continue our services to women and children – whether that's at the transition house, through our police-based victim services program, or through our women's and children's counselling programs," explained Parsons.
More specifically, funds raised will support STHS's free counselling program, a 24-hour crisis line, short-term transition housing, victim services, community outreach, harm reduction programs in schools, and more.
"These funds are essential to us because our government funding does not cover all of our expenses. We rely on fundraising initiatives such as this and others, and we are profoundly grateful that our community believes that women and children deserve to live free from violence," said Parsons.
The Tim's Smile Cookie campaign runs until May 4. STHS staff will be on site at Sooke's Tim Hortons locations throughout the week to speak with customers and explain more about what they do.
Smile Cookies can be purchased for just $2. This year, the campaign also features plush Smile Cookies for those without a sweet tooth.
"We hope that by participating in Smile Cookie Week, we will raise awareness about gender-based violence and perhaps also reach women in our community who might benefit from our services," said Parsons.
