Elizabeth’s Wildlife Center in Abbotsford has received a donation of almost $13,000 from the Holiday Smile Cookie campaign at Tim Hortons.
The donation was presented Tuesday morning (Dec. 5) at the Tim Hortons in the Fraser Valley Auto Mall.
The campaign ran Nov. 13 to 19, with each cookie selling for $1.50 at 14 Tim Hortons locations in Abbotsford and two in Langley.
The money raised is being shared with the wildlife centre and Tim Hortons Foundation camps.
Tim Hortons has run its annual Smile Cookie campaign for 25 years to raise money for charities and community groups, but this is the first time it took place during the holiday season.
RELATED: Abbotsford’s Elizabeth Melnick is dedicated to saving little lives
EWCS was established in 1986 and became a non-profit organization in 1999. Melnick is a qualified registered nurse and wildlife rehabilitator.
The centre cares for injured and orphaned wild birds and small animals.
What first began as a rescue centre from her home has expanded into her backyard with construction of aviaries and small housing facilities.
In addition to Melnick, the centre includes one part-time staff member and 30 volunteers in the busy season (April to October) to handle an increasing workload.
The centre receives funding primarily from public and business donations, both in-kind and monetary.
Each year EWCS admits more than 1,500 birds/animals, with approximately half being fully rehabilitated and released.
The site receives over 7,000 phone calls per year with questions regarding situations involving injured/orphaned wildlife. It serves not only Abbotsford, but a vast regional area.
Visit elizabethswildlife.ca for more information.