Nova Scotia team strikes a sweet deal for three charities

Jamie Loughery worked with local restaurants to keep the annual Girl Guide cookie drive with BMO donating $1 for each box sold to the United Way

In break rooms, at community events and on doorsteps across Canada, the familiar blue boxes of Girl Guide cookies are usually a welcomed sight of spring. Selling more than six million boxes a year, the cookies are a key source of Girl Guides of Canada’s annual revenue, and they rely on a grass-roots fundraising squad of Guides and their families to make it happen. This year, of course, looks very different, but there’s a good news story to tell at a time when the province needs it most.

Unable to venture out in to their communities to make much-needed sales, the Girl Guides were faced with a dilemma. In Nova Scotia, Jamie Loughery, Regional President, Atlantic Provinces, BMO Private Wealth saw a great opportunity to bring the community together.

“Having fundraising door-to-door is clearly a health concern right now,” Jamie says. “At the same time, I was in a conversation with the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia (RANS) and they were looking for positive ideas to promote their entrepreneurs still attempting to deliver food.”

Girl Guide cookies – $1 from every box sold will be donated to United Way

Recognizing a great partnership opportunity, Jamie and his team helped arrange for the Girl Guides to sell cookies at RANS restaurants offering delivery. With 20 restaurants already participating and more expected to sign-up, the Girl Guides in Nova Scotia are set to meet their fundraising targets for the year so they can continue to offer their in-person and virtual educational and leadership programs for girls.

Making this partnership even more impactful to the community, BMO will donate $1 for every box sold to United Ways of Nova Scotia. This is in addition to our donation of $100,000 to charities in Nova Scotia to help communities affected by the recent tragedy.

“Due to COVID-19, the urgency and demand to meet essential needs such as food, safe shelter, mental health support and connection has significantly intensified,” says Sara Napier, who is the CEO of United Way Halifax.  “We are so grateful for this new partnership. Seeing people come together to help others is always inspiring – it’s a financial and emotional boost at a time when our community needs it most.”

For a list of participating restaurants, check out RANS on Instagram at @restassocns or on Facebook at @RestAssocNS.