First responders will help decorate Tim Hortons ‘Smile’ cookies in fundraiser for Children’s Hospital

Photos by Tom Rivers: This group includes, in front, the Tim Hortons store manager in medina, Maryjo Polick; and Jenni Simpson, the store manager of the Albion Tim Hortons. Second row includes Albion Police Chief David Mogle, Albion Key Bank manager Nancy MacPhee, state trooper Doug Rich, Tim Hortons owner Joey Filippelli, Orleans County Undersheriff Don Draper, Key Bank lead teller Connie Harrison and Sheriff Chris Bourke. Back row: Albion Police Department Lt. Brandon Annable, Mercy Flight EMS paramedic Adam Wengrzycki, Medina Key Bank manager Patrick Knapp and chaplain Randy LeBaron.

ALBION – The Tim Hortons in Albion and Medina will be selling “Smile Cookies” from April 28 through May 4, and the restaurants will have extra help on two of those days from local law enforcement officers and other community leaders.

All of the proceeds from the “Smile Cookies” sold at the Albion and Medina Tim Hortons will go to Golisano Children’s Hospital.

Law enforcement, other first responders and some local officials will be at the Albion Tim Hortons on Monday, April 28, from 7 to 10 a.m., helping to put smiles made of frosting on the chocolate chip cookies. The officers and first responders will help at the Tim Hortons in Medina from 7 to 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

Joey Filippelli, co-owner of the two Tim Hortons, said the Tim Hortons have participated in the “Smile Cookie” fundraiser for many years. This year he wanted to make it a bigger fundraiser, and he reached out to the law enforcement community and other local leaders to participate.

The cookies are $2 and 100 percent of the sales go to the Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester. The Filippelli family also run three Tim Hortons in Rochester and proceeds from the cookie sales there will also go to the Children’s Hospital.

Tim Hortons has been running the “Smile Cookie” fundraiser since 1996. Last year the Tim Hortons at locations in the U.S. and Canada raised $19.8 million for local hospitals, community care organizations, food banks and schools.

Filippelli said this year the cookies are bigger than in the past. They are decorated with blue and pink frosting.

The Albion and Medina Tim Hortons will also have games for customers who buy cookies to have a chance at prizes. Albion will have the games on April 28 from 7 to 10 a.m., while Medina offers them the following day in the morning from 7 to 10.

Filippelli said people who buy several cookies have a chance to spin the wheel, do a Timbit Toss, or guess the Timbits in a box to win prizes.