Grade 3 student and Reading College graduate Kayda Keryluke shows off her freshly decorated cookie Tuesday morning at the Tim Hortons on Orr Dr. (rdnewsNOW/Jordan Davidson)

By Jordan Davidson (Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow)

Proceeds helping reading college

Tim Hortons’ Smile Cookies help local kids improve reading skills

Sep 14, 2021 | 2:07 PM

It’s that time of year again where local Tim Hortons locations are putting smiles on their cookies as well as smiles on faces while helping kids improve their reading skills.

Proceeds from their annual Smile Cookie campaign will once again go towards Reading College, a project of the Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools (RDPS).

Reading College is a summer program for kids going into the third grade who may need a hand boosting their reading skills.

A few Grade 3 students from local schools were at the Tim Hortons location on Orr Drive in Red Deer Tuesday morning decorating some cookies to kick-off the campaign locally.

Bruce Buruma, Executive Director of the Foundation for RDPS says they’ve had 500 graduates from the program over the last decade, and he credits community support and campaigns like the Smile Cookie campaign in helping them achieve their goals.

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“One of the best predictors of high school completion is whether or not children are reading at grade level by the end of grade 3. If we know that these students are struggling, we can sure improve their life chances if we can provide that intervention.”

Executive Director for the Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools Bruce Buruma getting kids excited about reading and decorating their smile cookies. (rdnewsNOW/Jordan Davidson)

From Sept. 13-19, Tim Hortons restaurant owners in Red Deer will generously donate all the proceeds from sales of the $1 special smiling chocolate chunk cookie treat.

Buruma says not only is this a fun and positive event, but an easy reminder to smile and enjoy life.

“There are so many challenges we’re facing, and I think we have to be positive about things and this is another way you can do that. Share a smile with people this week and help a really good cause.”

He says in past years they’ve managed to raise between $30-40,000 locally, and he’s hoping to surpass those numbers this year thanks to the generosity and hard work of the local community.

“These local owners are so committed to the programming, and they do that for Camp Day, they do that for so many other things. Tim Hortons is Canada.”

The Smile Cookie campaign has raised over $65 million across North America since it began in 1996. Last year alone they raised a record $10.56 million.