The holiday spirit was in full swing during this year’s Holiday Smile Cookie Week at Morden Tim Hortons, raising an impressive $5,500 for the Morden Christmas Cheer Board. The initiative, a win-win event, also raised an additional $5,500 for the Tim Hortons Foundation Camps.
"We were absolutely blown away,” said Chelsey Delaquis, public relations lead for the Morden Christmas Cheer Board. “That is a pile of cookies! It’s $1,500 more than last year, which is amazing.”
Chelsey shared that these funds play a significant role in making the season brighter for many families. "The money raised goes directly toward grocery gift cards for our hampers and supplements for gifts for age groups that are harder to shop for. Every dollar makes a huge difference.”
A community effort
The weeklong event wasn’t just about fundraising—it was a festive community celebration. Local businesses and residents rallied together, decorating cookies and spreading holiday joy.
"We had MJS Law Offices, Focal Point Morden, Morden Realty, and Crocus Realty participating. Even Morden City Council got involved, with counselors like Brenda, Gord, Sheldon, and Nancy Penner coming out to decorate cookies,” Chelsey added.
One special volunteer was Ivy, a professional cake decorator, who added her creative touch. "If anyone received cookies with heart-shaped eyes, that was Ivy!" laughed Chelsey.
Chelsey also praised the Tim Hortons team for their dedication. "It’s a lot of extra work for them to promote, bake, and decorate, but they went above and beyond. We were so happy to step in and help out—it was a true partnership."
Looking ahead
The funds will directly support the Christmas hampers, which will be delivered on December 18th. Volunteers will begin organizing on December 16th, with gift wrapping scheduled for December 17th.
Chelsey expressed heartfelt gratitude to Jeff and Linda Derksen, owners of Morden Tim Hortons, who designated the holiday smile cookie proceeds to local Christmas Cheer Boards for the second year in a row.
“Thank you to everyone who supported this initiative—whether by buying cookies, sending in selfies, or simply spreading the word. It’s amazing to see the community come together like this,” Chelsey said.
Share the cheer
The Morden Christmas Cheer Board continues to bring the holiday spirit to those in need. Keep an eye out for their upcoming initiatives, including the Angel Trees project, to find more ways to contribute.
For more information or to get involved, visit the Morden Christmas Cheer Board on social media, or on their website.
*With files from Robyn Wiebe
