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Cops, coffee and donuts

Friday fundraiser at Dunkin’ to support Special Olympics Iowa

-Messenger file photo
Gage Porter, a Special Olympics athlete, participates in 2021, in his second year fundraising for a good cause that he says makes him feel human.

The Fort Dodge Police Department is asking the community for tips.

Only this time, the tips aren’t for any investigation — they’re for raising money to support the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Iowa.

Officers with the FDPD, as well as other area law enforcement agencies, will be at Dunkin’, 2520 Fifth Ave. S., from 5 a.m. to noon Friday to collect donations and raise awareness for Special Olympics Iowa for the seventh annual Dunkin’ Cop on a Rooftop.

“The Police Department likes to take part in anything that we can to help such a worthwhile thing like the Special Olympics,” said Capt. Dennis Quinn, public information officer for the FDPD. “Anytime that we can assist with any kind of community event like this.”

Like the name suggests, some officers will even be hanging out on the coffee shop’s rooftop.

-Messenger file photo
Officer Harmon Atwood and then-Lt. Dennis Quinn with Fort Dodge Police Department beg passersby to help them get off the Dunkin’ Donuts roof by donating to the Special Olympics.

Of the six previous years of the Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser, the Fort Dodge location has raised the most out of all Iowa locations in three of those years. Last year, the Fort Dodge location collected $2,524 for Special Olympics Iowa.

“You can tell that the community gets behind it very well,” Quinn said. “You see a lot of smiles from people when they give that money. We’ve had people give everything from a $100 bill down to kids giving quarters. It’s all pretty cool.”

The fundraiser will be held at 21 other Dunkin’ locations across Iowa, and the FDPD is determined to be the top location once again.

The annual fundraiser has brought more than $130,000 for Special Olympics Iowa since its inception in 2015. The fundraiser was not held in 2020. The statewide goal for Friday’s fundraiser is $30,000.

Donations can be made using cash, check, Venmo or online. If donating online, be sure to select the Fort Dodge location. If donating on Venmo, write “Dunkin Fort Dodge” in the “What’s it for?” field.

Every donor will receive a free donut, while everyone who donates $10 or more will also receive a free medium hot coffee. Anyone who donates $20 or more will receive a free coffee tumbler while supplies last.

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