Tim Hortons Orange Sprinkled Donut fundraiser raises $1.6 million

On its first day of the campaign, this Tim Hortons location sold more than 2,300 orange-sprinkled donuts, which was the most in the country.

“We can’t say thank you enough to everyone across Canada who supported this campaign – it’s such an amazing result and we are so proud,” said Gottfriedson, former Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation chief and former B.C. regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations.

Orange Shirt Day has been observed on Sept. 30 since 2013, when Phyllis Webstad told her story of her first day of residential school. She was six years old in 1973, excited to be wearing her new clothes and going to school for the first time, only to have her shiny new orange shirt ripped away and learn that she didn’t matter.

Her organization, the Orange Shirt Society and the Every Child Matters movement she created continue to raise awareness about Canada’s history of residential schools, along with honouring the survivors and their families and the children who never returned home.

“Words can’t express the gratitude that I and the Orange Shirt Society feel with the news of the success of this amazing fundraiser!” said Webstad. “Thank you Tim Hortons and thank you Canada for all your support!”

The Indian Residential School Survivors Society has a more than 20-year history of providing services to residential school survivors, their families, and those dealing with intergenerational traumas.

One of the Society’s goals is to continually expand support to partner organizations and maximize access to culturally sensitive, emotional, mental, physical and spiritual care.

“We are working tirelessly to support survivors of residential schools and their families through programs and services for the youth, 2SLGBTQ+, elders and families. This donation will allow us to ensure the quality of programs are enhanced in providing safe cultural spaces, and build capacity in offering additional counsellors, therapists and knowledge keepers,” said Angela White, Executive Director of the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.

by Amandalina Letterio

Tim Hortons Orange Sprinkled Donut fundraiser raises $1.6 million

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