'Cornerstone' Donut Shop Faces Long Road Back After Fire: Here's How Clinton Is Responding

CLINTON, CT — The community is coming to the aid of Beach Donut Shop, a local favorite that was badly damaged in a fire.

The building at 344 East Main St. had extensive damage in the May fire. One person was injured in the blaze.

The shop announced it would be temporarily closed, but they planned to "begin rebuilding as soon as possible."

Read more: Beloved Clinton Donut Shop Badly Damaged In Blaze, Owners Vow To Rebuild

A GoFundMe has been started by Allison Page to support the shop.

"For more than 75 years, Beach Donut Shop has been a cornerstone of the Clinton shoreline community—a place where families begin summer mornings, friends catch up over coffee, and visitors make memories year after year," the GoFundMe reads.

The community was "devastated" to learn about the fire.

"While we are incredibly grateful that everyone is safe, the road ahead will be a difficult one," according to the fundraiser's page.

"Many of us have celebrated birthdays with Beach Donut donuts, brought visiting friends there for their first shoreline breakfast, or made it part of our family’s summer traditions.

"Now it’s our turn to support them."

The fundraiser was created to help the shop's employees who have lost income as well as with recovery efforts as the shop's owners work toward reopening.

As of Thursday morning, $13,640 had been raised on 74 donations.

View the GoFundMe by clicking here.

Beach Donut Shop thanked the fundraiser's organizers on their Facebook page and said they "look forward to the day when we can gather together again and warmly welcome our valued customers back."