Annual Donut Dash Benefits Newtown Youth & Family Services

By Eliza Hallabeck

Spectators were waiting outside Andrea’s Pastry Shop on Sunday, April 11, as four runners, in two teams, made their way from Sandy Hook Center up to the flagpole on Main Street and back down to the corner of Queen Street and Church Hill Road for the third Annual Donut Dash.

For the third year, Michael Porco, Jr, and staff from Porco’s Karate Academy had organized the Donut Dash to benefit Newtown Youth & Family Services.

During their stop at Andrea’s Pastry Shop the runners ate roughly 13 donuts each, depending on whether sponsors or donors made a pledge for them to eat more or less.

“We’re trying to raise money for the Newtown Youth & Family Services for the Newtown Road Race 5K,” said Karate Academy member Lauren D’Amico before the four runners arrived at Andrea’s Pastry Shop, serving for the third year as the stopping point of the fundraiser. “This is how we get our money. We like to help out every year.”

Behind Ms D’Amico, children at the event were testing their strength and conviction by finishing ten push-ups to earn a donut from pastry shop owner Tony Posca.

“We’ve got four people running,” Ms D’Amico said, “two karate students and two firefighters. They are going to be running, eating 13 donuts in between, then they are going to run up to the flagpole, up to the police station and hopefully they will feel a little sick when they come back.”

After finishing the race, each runner also had to finish 100 sit-ups after reaching Andrea’s Pastry Shop the second time.

Along with Mr Porco, Porco’s Karate Academy instructor Christopher Perry, Newtown Hook & Ladder Company, No. 1 Chief Jason Rivera and Newtown Hook & Ladder Company, No. 1 firefighter Colin Curran ran the three-mile race. Mr Curran won by completing the event first.

“The Donut Dash is the sign to me that spring has come,” said Newtown Youth & Family Services Executive Director Beth Agen, “and I look forward to it each year.”

Residents could also buy a square representing race finish times on Sunday. If they guessed the right or closest time they won a prize: a free month of karate, a $20 certificate to Andrea’s Pastry Shop, and last, a sweatshirt.

“I just think it is wonderful and upstanding that you can get a community to come out,” said Newtown Youth & Family Services Board of Directors Vice Chair Joan Pisciteli, “especially on a Sunday.”

Ms Pisciteli said it is nice to see people, like Mr Porco, giving back to the community.

By Wednesday, April 14, donations were still being counted, but Mr Porco said the event raised more than $1,000 for the cause.

Mr Porco said the community’s challenge for next year will be to have more people running, bringing friends and family and raising more money for the cause.

“I think it was a great event, a great experience for everybody,” said Mr Porco. “And I hope it brought exposure into the public for the Newtown Youth & Family Services.”