Tim Hortons’ Holiday Smile Cookie campaign got off to a fun start on Friday. Local proceeds will be used to keep local children out of foster care and keep their relatives safe.
A group of local celebrities gathered at the Tim Hortons store on Great Northern Road and Second Line East on Friday afternoon for the Algoma Children’s Aid Society’s Blind Cookie Decorating Contest.
This event, unique to CAS of Algoma, is designed to raise funds and awareness for the CAS of Algoma Kinship Service and is part of the Tim Hortons Holiday Smile Cookie Campaign, which runs from November 13th to 19th. It was also a fun kickoff.
One hundred percent of the funds raised through the sale of smile cookies at local Tim’s stores from November 13th to 19th will be donated to the CAS of Algoma Kinship Service program.
Kinship Services is a relatively new child welfare program designed to remove children from foster care and place them with relatives when their home situation is dangerous.
“Our agency works extremely hard to keep children with their families when problems arise,” said Tracy Willoughby, executive director of the Algoma Children’s Aid Society. . Sue today.
“Currently, there are approximately 101 children placed with families in the Sioux Algoma area. Many of our Kinship Service families are children staying with their grandparents. We hope to raise funds for family programs such as sports and day camps and other expenses.”
“We know that when children are with their families, we get better outcomes for the families we work with, and we get better outcomes for the children. “We strive to place the child with grandparents or other family members until the risk of death is reduced,” Willoughby said.
Willoughby said about 85 per cent of families in kinship services across Ontario include grandparents.
Participants in Friday’s contest had 15 seconds to decorate a cookie while blindfolded and tried several times.
The result wasn’t perfectly decorated cookies, of course, but it was full of fun and laughter.
“Blindfolds add an element of fun to the event,” Willoughby said with a smile.
Ward 1 City Councilman Sonny Spina won and was presented with a framed certificate.
The judges for the contest were Sort’s children, Noah Diaz, Violet Hawley and Harper Boniferro, each with family and friends ties to the Algoma Children’s Aid Society.
Timothy Murphy – Sioux actor, singer, stage manager and entertainment coordinator – will emcee Friday’s event.
Algoma Children’s Aid Society staff members will be baking cookies at local Tim Hortons stores during the Holiday Smile Cookie Campaign.
“Village Media’s mission is to strengthen our communities, and we strive to do that through every initiative and program we can participate in locally. This is definitely an example of that,” said Village Media Director of Marketing and Communications. Director Jasmine Rowley said.
Laurie was one of several local celebrities who took part in Friday’s blindfolded cookie decorating exercise.
“CAS plays a very important role in our community and fundraising efforts like this are really beneficial. Especially for their programs, which do not receive government funding, it is important that the community actively supports them.” There’s a need.’ It takes a village,” Lowry said.
“While this is an important service provided by kinship families, it is not a funded program. Families whose children are living together for the first time are eligible for about $1,000 a year, but there is not much available. It’s not far away,” said Krista Boudreau, director of services for Algoma Children’s Aid Society.
Workplaces are encouraged to purchase a batch of cookies or donate directly to Children’s Aid Society Algoma Kinship Services during the Tim Hortons Holiday Smile Cookie Campaign from Nov. 13-19.
Spina, Rowley, Sioux City Councilman Ross Romano, Sioux Police Department Chief Hugh Stevenson, Sioux City Fire Department Deputy Fire Operations Chief Mike Oliverio, Fire Chief Peter Johnson, Children’s Aid Society Executive Director Tracy Willoughby, Stones. – Marnie Stone, owner of Office Supply, decorated cookies during Friday’s contest, each blindfolded.