Tim Hortons restaurants across Alberta are showing their support for Jasper by donating $200,000 to the Canadian Red Cross’s 2024 Alberta Wildfires Appeal.
Tim Hortons presented a mock cheque to the Canadian Red Cross in Hinton on Tuesday (Aug. 27).
“It’s just amazing to me to have a partner like Tim Hortons who has always been so supportive of the work of the Red Cross,” said Thu Parmar, vice president for Alberta and the Northwest Territories at the Canadian Red Cross.
From Aug. 12-16, Tim Hortons locations offered guests a fundraising doughnut for $2 and donated 100 per cent of the proceeds, excluding taxes.
The $200,000 raised through the Alberta Cares Donut will be used to assist those impacted in Jasper and other affected areas in Alberta with immediate and ongoing relief.
“[The Smile Cookie] taught us that with the power of the brand, we can raise a lot of money, and the communities like to step up and support it,” said Lyle Hryniuk, who owns and operates seven Tim Hortons restaurants throughout the region, including one in Jasper.
“So, we knew that going into this situation, that the doughnut would be a good idea, and selling $200,000 worth in four days is pretty impressive.”
Tim Hortons restaurant owners have also been donating food and beverages to first responders and evacuation centres since the wildfires first broke out in Jasper.
Hryniuk noted they have been focused on getting the Tim Hortons in Jasper up and running, which could take another month.
“We want our team members to have a sense of normalcy, but we want residents to be able to have something familiar,” he said.
The location is currently being cleaned and restored, and interior damage and some fire damage to the roof will need to be repaired.
Hryniuk added 14 of their 16 full-time staff members had lost their homes, which was another challenge to reopening.
Donations to the 2024 Alberta Wildfires Appeal can be made online or by calling 1-800-418-1111. The federal and provincial governments will match every dollar donated by Canadians to the Red Cross.
