The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
The beat goes on with donuts
The Wellington Band Boosters have been a staple at the Lorain County Fair for over 50 years, and this year is no different.
The group’s booth seems innocuous at first glance with its white siding walls and simple printed sign. But it is a hive of activity with volunteers flitting about trying to feed the public’s ravenous desire for their product.
Joanna Broome, a mother volunteering in the stand, said the booth funds the band program for Wellington High and McCormick Middle schools and makes up the majority of the group’s fundraising for the year.
“It started in 1964, this is the 53rd year,” Broome said.
She added that the recipe has stayed the same for all of those years.
The booth is operated by volunteers: mainly students, parents and grandparents who prepare and sell about 84,000 of the pastries every year at the fair, Broome said.
The price has stayed fairly consistent over the years with a dozen costing about $6.50.
As school funding dwindles,
their work at the fair grows more important, she said.
“We just bought new uniforms; they haven’t had new uniforms in 10 years,” Broome said. “This past spring, we went to Disney World and the kids were able to perform.
“Instruments are expensive and uniforms are expensive,” Broome said. “There’s a lot of money that’s involved in it and we try to support it
as much as we can.”
John Kiley, 80, of Columbia Station, snuck away from the veterans’ booth at the fair to get one of the delightful dough circles.
Kiley said they are almost addictive.
“They are the best,” he said. “They must have a special recipe, because they are the best.”
In his conversation with a Morning Journal reporter, Kiley repeatedly had to take
breaks to take bites of the donut he purchased.
“When you can help children with your cause, that’s what it’s about, because that’s the next generation that’s going to run our country,” he said between bites.
While continuing his conversation, Kiley noticed the line for donuts was empty, but before he finished giving his name, there were seven people waiting to get their deep fried treat.