Kingston smile cookies raise $177K for child and youth mental health

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The latest Kingston-area Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign will help fund resources for child and youth mental health services at Kingston Health Sciences Centre.

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A cheque for $177,413 made out to University Hospitals Kingston Foundation was presented to local health-care workers on Wednesday.

That money was raised during the annual Tim Hortons fundraiser, which took place this year from April 29 to May 5. One hundred per cent of the proceeds from the sale of the coffee shop chain’s chocolate chip cookies featuring a smiley face are donated to a cause each year, and KHSC’s child and youth mental health services are the recipient of choice for the second time.

KHSC has received the fundraiser proceeds for the past 21 years.

“This is the second year in a row we’ve raised money for child and youth mental health services, and I am tremendously proud that we have given more than $400,000 over those two years,” local Tim Hortons restaurant owner Sherri Agnew said in a news release on Wednesday from UHKF.

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Last year’s campaign helped to fund the purchase of comfort and treatment items, including weighted blankets, therapy workbooks, art supplies, specialized toys and sensory items, exercise bikes and small trampolines, and activities such as board games, puzzles and Lego to “use as tools to promote social interaction.”

“It’s always difficult to find funding for our programs, so we are incredibly grateful to Tim Hortons and the people of Kingston who supported the campaign,” Nicholas Axas, the program operational director for Mental Health and Addiction Care at KHSC, said in a written statement provided by UHKF. “This money will help give kids and teens the skills and tools they need to overcome their challenges, thrive and set them up for a successful future.”

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“Today’s kids and teens are experiencing challenging childhoods that my generation never faced — from dealing with harmful effects of social media to a global pandemic,” Agnew said in her statement. “Thanks to all our guests for helping support this great cause. The Kingston community is truly amazing!”

University Hospitals Kingston Foundation is the charitable foundation supporting Kingston Health Sciences Centre and Providence Care, fundraising for health-care facilities, programs, equipment, education and research that benefit approximately 500,000 people living in the Kingston region and in southeastern Ontario.

For information, visit www.uhkf.ca.

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