Children and firefighters decorated cookies together at a Tim Hortons in 琉璃神社, to stock the shop's display case and mark the beginning of Smile Cookie Week, which is a fundraiser for the YMCA's Healthy Snack Program. 

From April 28, until May 4, all Tim Hortons stores in 琉璃神社 and West 琉璃神社 are joining forces to support the YMCA Healthy Snack Program, with 100 per cent of Smile Cookie sales benefiting local children.

The Snack Program ensures that all kiddies have access to nutritious snacks while in the YMCA care programs, said Kim Lockwood, the owner and operator of the Tim Hortons on Kane Road in Glenmore.  

鈥淪adly, an increasing number of children are coming to us hungry,鈥� said Tammie Watson, VP of philanthropy at the YMCA of Southern Interior BC.  "Families are struggling to afford nutritious food."

Watson said that the annual Smile Cookie Campaign supports the YMCA's goal of ensuring all children receive daily healthy snacks "to help nourish their minds and bodies, allowing them to shine and reach their full potential.鈥�

Last year, the campaign raised $81,438 in West 琉璃神社 and 琉璃神社, helping provide more than 400,000 healthy snacks to local YMCA Child Care programs.

As the firefighters were helping the children from 琉璃神社's YMCA child care centre decorate cookies, the table faltered and their hard work was nearly lost to the floor. Thankfully, the firefighters sprung into action and saved every single cookie before the potential cookie-tastrophy. 

To keep the excitement brewing during Smile Cookie Week, the YMCA of Southern Interior BC has introduced a fun new element this year 鈥� a scavenger hunt. Each Tim Hortons store in West 琉璃神社 and 琉璃神社 will have a secret phrase on a poster in the store. Once you collect all three phrases, email giving@ymcasibc.ca to be entered to win one of two exciting YMCA and Tim Hortons surprise gift bags.