![Inn of the Good Shepherd Executive Director Myles Vanni [front] helps make smile cookies during the 2023 campaign. Image courtesy of the Inn of the Good Shepherd Facebook page.](https://media.mynewstoday.ca/i/x9lRg5kB/355)
Sarnia's Inn of the Good Shepherd is full of smiles.
Executive Director Myles Vanni said a record $74,983 was raised for the organization through this spring's Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign.
"When you've got a tasty cookie like that, it's hard to go wrong with it," Vanni laughed. "People were wonderful. We're going to really be able to really focus those funds on our summer programs, the Mobile Market, our fresh vegetable truck, our children's snack pack program and the back to school kits."
Vanni said he's so thankful for all of the work that went into the campaign in Sarnia and Bright's Grove.
"The teams at each of the 11 Tim Hortons restaurants were just kept hopping with making cookies and we were out helping to decorate, to take a bit of the strain off of them. People were coming in and buying a couple cookies for themselves or buying a box for work. We had a lot of orders that went out to different companies. Everybody seemed thrilled to support it," he said.
Vanni said this was the first year the Inn had been selected for the fundraiser.
"We applied last year, [but] wasn't chosen, it went to St. Joseph's Hospice which was great, and this year we were selected. So, we were blessed to be the recipient this year," Vanni added.
Charities receive 100 per cent of smile cookie proceeds.
