Tim Hortons’ Camp Day is a day the food chain sets aside each year to raise money to send local kids to a Tim Hortons Foundation Camp. Every penny from coffee sales, whether hot or iced, goes towards sending these kids to camp.

“It’s not just coffee, it’s a chance to change someone’s life,” said Jack Shea, administrative intern for the Jamestown Tim Hortons. “You grab your usual double-double or iced capp, and just like that, you’re helping a young person from right here in our community attend camp and grow into a leader.”

Tim Hortons Foundation Camps focus on building confidence, leadership and life skills, Shea said. Kids that participate get to go through a multi-year journey as they hike, canoe, learn teamwork, and push themselves in ways they may never have imagined.

“For a lot of them, it’s their first time leaving home, their first time being told: ‘We believe in you,'” Shea said. “It’s powerful. And it stays with them forever.”

Staff members at the Foote Avenue Tim Hortons location participate in a previous year’s Camp Day. Submitted photo

Shea said in this way people can come by a Tim Hortons location on Wednesday and make a big difference in an easy way, letting their normal coffee grab count for something bigger. Helping these kids get to camp allows them “the opportunity to discover who they are and what they’re capable of”, he added.

At the Brooklyn Square Tim Hortons location there will be a dunk tank to celebrate the day as well, from noon to 3 p.m.

If interested in having a child attend one of the foundation’s camps, Shea said the best thing to do would be to talk with the child’s school or local youth groups and let them know, as the foundation works with schools, youth programs and local community organizations to nominate kids to go to the camp. He added people can also call the Jamestown Tim Hortons office and they can point them in the right direction.

Tim Hortons’ annual Camp Day is something he said has the ability to make a big difference in the lives of many kids.

“This is a real impact,” Shea said. “We’re not talking about a short trip to camp; we’re talking about changing the trajectory of a kid’s life. This program builds confidence, leadership, and resilience in kids who may not have had that chance otherwise. And all you have to do to help is buy a coffee or find one of our volunteers that day to make a donation.”

For those who cannot make it on Camp Day, Tim Hortons is accepting donation checks and offering the ability to pre-order coffee for a workplace or group. Checks can be made out to Tim Hortons Foundation Camps and dropped off or mailed to 115 McDaniel Avenue in Jamestown, with a note that it is for Camp Day.

Shea thanked everyone for their interest and participation in the day.

“Every single cup, every dollar, every share on social media helps,” Shea said. “Let’s make this our best Camp Day yet.”