Something as simple as a cup of coffee can have a positive impact on a child today.
On July 16, Tim Hortons locations in Steinbach are joining the nationwide effort to support Tim Hortons Camp Day, a fundraiser that helps change the lives of youth across Canada.
Although the event only lasts one day, manager of all three Steinbach locations Jorge Soussa says the impact lasts much longer.
“Camp Day is more than just a day where we raise funds to send a kid to a one-day camp, these kids go through a program and start about the age 12 and they leave about the age of 19 in this program, and there's touch points throughout every six months minimum.”
He shares that a special pilot project in Manitoba and Ontario has already seen powerful results.
“They've had educational staff in schools from Tim Horton's Foundation Camps working with these kids to develop new skills, leadership, courage, things like this, or see that they can do more than they ever imagined they could.”
On Camp Day, 100% of proceeds from hot or iced coffee go directly to the Tim Hortons Foundation Camps. Sales of camp bracelets and the limited-edition camp donut also help raise funds.
Coffee sales continue to rise each year, and Soussa says the Steinbach team is aiming to set a new record.
“Every year we try to beat our previous numbers. Last year, this store did and just in hot coffee, 1,100 cups of coffee. So, we just want to go anywhere north of that will make us happy.”
Soussa is deeply committed to the cause and says he’s seen firsthand the difference it can make.
“I'm so passionate about Tim Horton's Foundation Camps because I've witnessed the change it can make in kids' lives. I've seen kids come from hard situations thinking that they can't do or make something of themselves, and it brings out hope. It inspires them and shows them a different route or path that maybe they haven't seen that maybe they've never witnessed themselves. So, it's growing leaders and great people in the community and guiding them into places that they could never imagine they'd be.”
That impact is being felt right here in Steinbach.
“I know in Steinbach we've sent over a dozen kids over the years already that has made an impactful change in their life. And we just had an event where I got to speak to a former member who, when I met her originally, [she was] very shy, very sheepish, and she stood in front of almost 200 people and spoke about her experiences with great courage and conviction.”
Stop by any Steinbach Tim Hortons location today and be part of something meaningful.
With files from Carly Koop