Smile Cookie sales in Prince Albert last week were in support of the YWCA. (File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

Smile Cookie Sales

‘Surprised, humbled, and honored’: YWCA reacts to community support during Smile Cookie week

May 9, 2023 | 8:00 AM

Smile Cookie week has wrapped up in Prince Albert, with all the funds going to the local YWCA. Once those funds are tallied up, both store owners and YWCA staff are expecting a lot of money raised.

YWCA volunteers were on location at Tim Hortons around Prince Albert through the morning and into the afternoons every day of the week except Sunday. And they were putting in a ton of work getting cookies ready.

“Hundreds and hundreds of dozens,” said David Hambleton, fund development officer with YWCA Prince Albert. “One group from our youth homes, they did about 700 cookies in a two-hour span on Saturday morning. I personally was volunteering at every location and I was doing 20, 30, 40, 50 dozen cookies in a day and I’m just one person.”

The YWCA hasn’t received an official number for the amount of money raised, but based on the demand for them they know it’s been a good week.

“It meant so much, it was huge,” said Donna Brooks, executive director of YWCA Prince Albert. “It was everywhere. If I went on Facebook, I saw people sharing about buying their Smile Cookies and staff sharing about decorating the Smile Cookies. I saw businesses buying Smile Cookies for their staff. That level of community support is absolutely amazing.”

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YWCA staff weren’t the only ones noticing a lot of people coming out to buy Smile Cookies. Store owners and managers who’d worked through other Smile Cookie campaigns noticed just how many people were showing up in support.

“In speaking with the managers and owners throughout the week, they indicated they’d never seen numbers of cookies flying off the shelves like this,” said Hambleton. “They were just so happy with the YWCA getting involved.”

Working with homeless people and other vulnerable people in the community, and with demand for their services consistently on the rise, YWCA found a big boost in not only the money raised but in the expression of support from the community.

“We were surprised, humbled, and honored to be chosen as the charity,” Hambleton said. “There are so many wonderful charities that do great work in this community. To be chosen and supported, to see people coming out and buying bulk orders and coming back for seconds and thirds, it just puts a smile on our face and warms our hearts.”

Brooks added the funds raised will go toward YWCA programs that they don’t have a contract with the federal or provincial government. This includes doing activities with newcomers, transportation, or buying snacks to have on hand at their location.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP