Adopt-A-School: Smile, it's a cookie!

Barj Dhahan and Gurtek Shoker at Tim Hortons in Surrey. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG

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Seven Tim Hortons locations — four in Surrey, three in Maple Ridge — will dedicate proceeds from the company’s Smile Cookie charity campaign to The Vancouver Sun’s Adopt-A-School program.

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“We are hoping to raise a significant amount of money for Adopt-A-School,” said Barj Dhahan, who with his business partner, Gurtek Shoker, owns the seven franchises.

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The weeklong Smile Cookie campaign begins Monday, April 27, and runs until May 3, with restaurants across the country selling the smiley-faced cookies for $2 apiece. All proceeds go to local charities.

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Dhahan, a longtime donor and supporter of Adopt-A-School, lobbied for it to be included in the chain’s fundraising program that in May last year raised $22.6 million on behalf of 640 charities across Canada. There are about 4,000 Tim Hortons restaurants in the country.

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The money raised from the seven restaurants will go to L.A. Matheson Secondary in Surrey as well as a number of surrounding elementary schools, and to Thomas Haney Secondary and its feeder elementary schools in Maple Ridge.

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These are schools needing help from Adopt-A-School, which this past year sent more than $2.3 million to 133 schools across the province to feed and clothe impoverished students.

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Since Adopt-A-School began in 2011, $17.5 million in aid has been sent to hundreds of schools across B.C. so that teachers can help children arriving at school hungry or without proper clothes or in need of other necessities to safeguard their welfare.

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The money provides in-school breakfast or lunch programs, as well as emergency funds to feed children at home during times when families are without food or money.

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The restaurants raising donations for Adopt-A-School in Surrey are located at: 2360 King George Boulevard; 16815 96th Ave.; 1757 152nd St.; and 12941 115th St.

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In Maple Ridge at: 12985 Dewdney Trunk Road; 11951 240th St.; and 22219 Lougheed Highway.

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Dhahan said the restaurants will also accept any extra donations customers want to give to Adopt-A-School.

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The restaurant chain will hold a second Smile Cookie campaign in November.

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“We are hoping to raise between $60,000 to $75,000 from the two campaigns this year,” said Dhahan.

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Asked why he helps Adopt-A-School, Dhahan said he is upset by the idea of “kids coming to school on empty stomachs and parents struggling economically and unable to support their children.”

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“It makes me think how so many of us have so much and others have so little,” said Dhahan.

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“The Vancouver Sun stories of teachers making personal sacrifices to help their students are heartwarming and inspire and encourage us to help others in need. “The Adopt-A-School program is innovative and much-needed. We are a wealthy province and kids shouldn’t be going to school hungry,” he said.

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“Children are our future and they are priceless.”

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How to donate

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2. PHONE: To pay by credit card, call 604-813-8673.

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