Orillia business owners giving back to local charities
The owners of a bakery in Orillia are showing a level of selflessness by giving back to various charities in a unique way.
Nicole Hepinstall and Tyson Renshaw opened Coco's Cookies this time last year. Since opening, they have been donating their tips to a local charity, selecting a new beneficiary every month.
"It's surreal to think we can do this," Hepinstall tells CTV News. "We feel very honoured to have this platform to be able to give back to the community and help a lot of people in need that we actually didn't know were in need until we started doing this."
Over their year in operations, they have donated approximately $6,000 to local groups, benefiting a different one for each of the 12 months they've been open.
"It's a community that keeps a roof over our heads," Renshaw says. "We don't do it for our own sake; we do it because we want to."
This month they are taking things one step further by accepting physical donations from the public for feminine hygiene products, which will be provided to this month's charity of choice: The Sharing Place.
Anyone who donates will be entered into a draw to win a $ 100' shop local' prize package.
The pair's overall goal is to help bring more awareness to various local charities.
"I think that there's a lot of these organizations in the community that people don't know about, and there's a lot of people in need in our community that people are unaware of, so we just want to bring more attention to them and hopefully get more donations," says Hepinstall.
For more information, click here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian army veteran charged with murder after mass shooting in Belize nightclub
A Canadian Armed Forces veteran has been charged with murder in connection to a mass shooting in Belize that left two people dead and eight others injured.

More Canadians report strong attachment to their language than to Canada: poll
A new survey finds more Canadians report a strong attachment to their primary language than to other markers of identity, including the country they call home.
B.C. actress hit in the chest by bullet in L.A. shooting last month
A B.C. performer is recovering after taking a bullet to the chest in Los Angeles last month.
Social media model arrested in Hawaii on murder charge
Law enforcement in Hawaii on Wednesday arrested social media model Courtney Clenney on a charge of second-degree murder with a deadly weapon.
Well-known Brampton, Ont. real estate agent, media personality savagely attacked outside home
A well-known real estate agent and media personality in Brampton, Ont. was viciously attacked in broad daylight in his own driveway by three men, two of whom appeared to be wielding an axe and a machete.
Saskatoon mother accused of faking death says she 'was left with no choice'
A Saskatoon mother who stands accused of faking her own death, as well as her son's, and illegally entering the U.S. is defending her actions.
Russia seemingly struggles to replenish its troops in Ukraine
As Russia continues to suffer losses in its invasion of Ukraine, now nearing its sixth month, the Kremlin has refused to announce a full-blown mobilization — a move that could be very unpopular for President Vladimir Putin. That has led instead to a covert recruitment effort that includes using prisoners to make up the manpower shortage.
Mint to unveil coin commemorating Canadian jazz legend Oscar Peterson
The Royal Canadian Mint is launching a special coin celebrating late music legend Oscar Peterson.
Dutch farmer protests and what's happening in Canada, explained
The ongoing protests in the Netherlands, by farmers opposed to their government’s plan to slash nitrogen oxide emissions by 50 per cent by 2030, have drawn attention to Canadian farmers’ concerns over an emissions reduction target set by the Canadian government. But the policies set out by the Dutch government and the Canadian government are fundamentally different, experts say.