You may have noticed something missing at Donut City, a popular morning pit stop for many Seal Beach residents located at 12th Street and Pacific Coast Highway.
Stella Chhan, who has owned the store with her husband for 28 years, has not been there selling sweet treats or serving hot coffee.
Stella suffered complications from an aneurysm on September 22nd and has been in rehabilitation ever since, according to her sister, Sharon Tam. Stella is progressing in her recovery but still at a nursing facility Tam said on Monday. Relatives, including Tam, have been helping John, Stella’s husband, run the business.
Now Seal Beach residents are trying to help, too. Last Friday, Old Town resident Dawn Caviola posted on NextDoor.com that she learned about Stella’s diagnosis and urged neighbors to help support the couple by buying donuts.
“I thought what if the community could help out and bring donuts to work, Church, school etc. so John will sell out faster and he can go spend more time with his wife,’” Caviola wrote in her post.
Neighbors jumped into action. The shop sold out of donuts before 10:30am on multiple days following the post, according to John. The shop usually closes at 2 p.m. More than 100 comments have popped up on Nextdoor.com with some people relaying how they bought donuts and others promising to do so.
One resident suggested hosting a donut eating contest to help.
In an interview on Monday, John expressed his gratitude to the residents. “I appreciate it,” he said with a warm smile. John said he usually goes to see his wife right after he closes up shop. When he sells out of donuts earlier, he’s able to get there sooner.
Some people suggested starting a GoFundMe page for the family, but John politely declined. “Thank you,” he said graciously and added, “It’s okay. I can handle it.”
“I am so happy that everyone felt like I did and chipped in,” Caviola wrote in a message Monday. “It warms my heart.”