40,576 cookies, were sold during Smile Cookie Week. That means that 40,576 dollars will be coming back to Airdrie through the Airdrie Health Foundation.
 
 
Michelle Bates, the Executive Director of the Airdrie Health Foundation explained that oftentimes Airdrie is lumped together with Calgary when it comes to taxpayer dollars and healthcare, but in the case of the Smile Cookies, the money will allow Airdronians to stay in Airdrie to seek medical care. 
 
"Having the [Airdrie Health] foundation being able to work with these great partners and raise funds and keep the money here just improves and enhances our healthcare here," she said. "That keeps our residents in Airdrie. It keeps some appointments in Airdrie and enhances the scope of practice that can be done within our city, whether it's urgent care, or the mental health or public health."
 

hem [volunteers] put in more than 20 hours each of decorating," she said. "Airdrie really pulled through this year and really supported locally."

 
Bates also announced that with Christmas approaching (less than two months away to be exact) the foundation is announcing what events they will be hosting during the holiday season.
 
"This is our second year doing a tribute tree and that consists of a 10 dollars donation [and for that] we'll put a loved one's name on Christmas ornaments," she said. "We will decorate this wonderful tree within the lobby of the health center."
 
For an additional 15 dollar donation, there is something even more luminous.
 
"For the first year ever, we have the community tribute tree and that's located just outside of the health center right in front," Bates said. "For every 15 dollar donation, we'll turn on a coloured light to help brighten the Christmas or the holiday tree.'
 
There will be a tree lighting ceremony on November 19th. Bates underlined that there is also a little something for the aspiring artists.
 
"Anyone 12 years and younger they (or their parents) can go to our website and there's a colouring contest," she said. "They can pick one of the three colouring contest sheets, colour it and bring it to the health center and drop it off there just inside the door."
 
The names of the artists will be put into a draw and the winner will have the honour of lighting the tribute tree this year. The colouring contest is open now until November 13th, 2021. Donations for the Tribute trees will start on November 1st. 
 
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