September 13th to the 19th saw people drive thru, eat in and pick up Smile Cookies from the Winkler and Morden Tim Hortons. All proceeds from the $1 Smile Cookie sales went to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Pembina Valley (BBBSPV) totaling $19,429.

This donation is much needed said BBBSPV Executive Director Jenelle Neufeld.

"This means everything for us, especially. It gets overwhelming, with again COVID being a thing, but not really being a thing. I feel like our programming has kind of returned back to normal, but fundraising and donations definitely haven't. So, the year and the success of this Smile Cookie Week is massive for our organization. It really makes up the difference for, maybe, some of the fundraisers we weren't able to have, or won't be able to have. So, we are just so thankful to be chosen year after year by Jeff and Linda."

Neufeld noted they have recently made the decision to cancel their "Bowl for Kid's Sake" annual fundraiser, which is their largest of the year, and typically brings in approximately $30,000. Last year, COVID-19 grants and subsidies filled in for the funds they were unable to raise, but this year, they are not seeing the same kind of support.

Neufeld said the money generated by the Smile Cookie Week campaign will go directly into supporting the intentional matching of mentorship relationships between "Bigs and Littles."

"We match them based off of similar interests, and we really find that creates a developmental relationship the kids can depend on. That person is consistent in their lives when they might not already have that. It makes a huge difference for them in their school attendance, their school marks, their overall attitude, their confidence. It's a full circle moment when you see the kids and their 'Bigs' together, or you get a check in from the 'Big', and they say how great it's going, or the parents notice a big difference. It just means everything, and it just warms my heart."

The cheque presentation coincided with the grand opening of the new Tim Hortons franchise in Carman, owned and operated by Jeff and Linda Doerksen, who started the Winkler Tim's almost eighteen years ago, and then two years later the Tim's in Morden. Sixteen years later, they have opened a Tim Hortons in their hometown of Carman. Linda Doerksen stated they were, "So happy and proud to be doing this."