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Cookie sale helps benefit Boys & Girls Club

By Braden Carmen 4 min read

This week, it's not just coffee and doughnuts Tim Hortons is serving, it's smiles – in more ways than one. From the smiles painted on custom cookies to those on the faces of the artists that create them, Tim Hortons is doing its part to raise money to benefit local communities.

All week long, Tim Hortons locations across Western New York and beyond will be selling "smile cookies" to support local charities.Locally, in Dunkirk, Fredonia, and Cassadaga, Tim Hortons franchise owners Dave and Gina Kron designated all proceeds from the sale of smile cookies to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County. The funds will go directly to school year and summer program supplies.

Smile cookie fundraisers are nothing new to Tim Hortons, but this year, rather than the funds raised locally going a cause out of town, the proceeds will benefit local children. That change is one that Gina Kron has been pushing to make for years.

"I am just so excited that we are working with the Boys & Girls Club this year," Kron said. "Our smile cookie is always a big event every year, but this year it is even more special because the proceeds are staying local. They are supporting our local children, and our children are our future. We are thrilled."

Members from the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County visited the Tim Hortons in Dunkirk located at 92 E. Lake Shore Drive near the pier on Monday afternoon to kick off the Smile Cookie Campaign. Jeannie Gallaway, Executive Director of Boys and Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County, brought a group of nine children to the Dunkirk location to kick off the event. Boys and Girls Club members in attendance were named Mimi (Naomi), Zozo (Zoelys), Daniela, Jojo, Ivan, Bentley, Ryan, Giada, and Natalia.

"It's been amazing see a local community member be a business owner and completely want to give back to the community," Gallaway said. "Gina has given back to the club by doing donut decorating with our kids at Christmas time, and now we're doing the smile cookie campaign. The kids being able to come into an actual location and be in the community decorating these cookies is amazing."

Holly Lanphere, store Manager of the Vineyard Drive Tim Hortons location, attended Monday's event with her children, Ivan and Ryan, who are members of the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County.

"It's really exciting seeing the kids be happy and excited to do different things. I really enjoy seeing the smiles on their faces, especially my own kids, because I get to see that too," Lanphere said.

As part of the campaign, on Saturday, May 6, all participating local Tim Hortons locations will be hosting Smile Cookie Decorating Events, with do-it-yourself kits available for purchase to design smile cookies in the store or at home. Tim Hortons will host "fun activities for the whole family" from 11 a.m. through 2 p.m.

"Anybody can come in and get in on the fun and decorate their own cookie," Kron said.

Like Gallaway, Lanphere also credited owners Dave and Gina Kron for the local focus of the event.

"I think it's really awesome that Dave and Gina went out of their way to make sure that we could benefit the Boys and Girls Club. We know that it's local this year and that's really awesome," Lanphere said.

Participating locations include 92 E. Lake Shore Drive, Dunkirk; 10371 Bennett Road, Fredonia; and 8008 Route 60, Cassadaga. The Tim Hortons location on Vineyard Drive in Dunkirk is also selling smile cookies, but will not hold an in-person do-it-yourself event on Saturday because of limited space at the location.

"Honestly, I just feel so fortunate to work with them and Gina to be here," Gallaway said. "I'm just super excited about all the opportunities we've been given and I can't wait to see what's in the future."

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