When Laurier development officer Cec Joyal rolled up the rim of her Tim Horton’s coffee cup four years ago, she saw much more than a free donut. She saw the region’s homeless enjoying a coffee and a muffin, a warm place to sit and the dignity of ordering a meal for themselves.

Joyal has volunteered with St. Louis Church’s Out of the Cold program since its inception in Kitchener-Waterloo a decade ago. She began collecting winning rims during the coffee chain’s annual promotion, and distributing them to the homeless and working poor as they left the church after a meal and an overnight stay.

Since she began collecting the tabs, Joyal has helped hundreds of needy people in the region.

“It’s an easy thing for people to do. I tell everyone I know,” says Joyal. “Now I’ve got little Grade 1 children bringing my sister tabs at the Toronto school where she teaches — they’re so proud to help.”