It’s the kind of gesture intended to make frontline staff and healthcare workers grin from ear to ear.
On Friday, Sept. 23, staff, supporters and members of Wellspring Niagara will hand-deliver 800 Smile Cookies to Niagara Health for our staff to enjoy. The chocolate chunk cookies adorned with smiley faces are a gift from Wellspring Niagara donor and member Paul Battaglia. Paul, a cancer survivor from St. Catharines, placed a significant order for Smile Cookies to support the annual campaign at three Tim Hortons locations in Fonthill where proceeds from sales will benefit Wellspring Niagara.
Both Paul and Wellspring Niagara are sharing the large order with other cancer patient-supporting organizations as a gesture of gratitude for their work. Boxes of cookies will be distributed to the Walker Family Cancer Centre and other departments at Niagara Health, and will include a thank you note from Paul to healthcare workers.
Members of the media are invited to attend the delivery for a photo and/or story:
When: Friday, Sept. 23 at 11:30 a.m.
Where: Main entrance of the St. Catharines Site, 1200 Fourth Ave.
Who: Ann Mantini-Celima, Wellspring Niagara Executive Director; Paul Battaglia, Wellspring Niagara member and Smile Cookie donor; Katie Beaton, Paul's wife; Jacqueline Ireland, Wellspring Niagara Community Engagement and Events Co-ordinator; Tracy Fazzari, Director, Patient Care, Oncology and Palliative Care, Walker Family Cancer Centre; and frontline healthcare workers.
About Wellspring Niagara:
Wellspring Niagara provides free services and programs to support individuals living with cancer and their families. Wellspring Niagara fulfills the dream of Aldo Mantini, who lost his life to cancer at age 31. Aldo had inspired many in his community to work together to bring the type of supportive care offered by Wellspring to Niagara. Today, in its 21st year, the centre provides a wide variety of programs and services to meet the social, emotional, restorative and informational needs of people with cancer. All programs are free of charge and support anyone living with cancer at any stage and their caregivers and family members through the Niagara region. As a not-for-profit, charitable organization, Wellspring Niagara does not receive any government funding and relies solely on the financial support of the community it serves, the Niagara region.
About Niagara Health:
Niagara Health is a regional hospital system with multiple sites and a growing network of community-based and virtual services. We provide a full range of acute care hospital services to the 450,000 residents across the Niagara region. In addition to operating one of the busiest emergency medicine programs in Ontario, we have regional centres of excellence in mental health and addictions, as well as cancer, cardiac, kidney, children’s health, and women’s and babies care. With the third-oldest population in Canada, we are also placing an increased focus on care for older adults.
Our team is made up of more than 7,300 employees, physicians, volunteers and patient partners who contribute to our purpose of providing Extraordinary Caring. Every Person. Every Time. Our Accreditation with Exemplary Standing is a clear demonstration of the team’s commitment to the highest safety and quality standards.
