9ers Diner and Donut Land creates new products to raise money for child in need of service dog

BRUNSWICK — 9ers Diner partnered with Donut Land to sell new doughnut-themed products to raise money for a local child who needs a service dog. Nash Szczepinski, 5, has ADNP syndrome and nonverbal autism. He has low muscle tone, dysphasia, temperature regulation difficulties, sensory needs, choking episodes, self-harm behaviors and low mobility. His mother, Faith Szczepinski, said a service dog would assist him with these difficulties. The family has been in the process of raising $20,000 for a service dog for a few months. Recently, this goal was met with 227 people making a donation through Facebook. Donut Land and 9ers Diner are continuing to raise money for the family to pay for their travel expenses. Faith Szczepinski said they have to stay at a hotel for about 10 days at 4 Paws for Ability in Xenia to train the dog with Nash personally. "(When) we raised money for the dog, which we did in such a short amount of time, I was so excited," she said. "I thought that was gonna be the end of it, but then the community stepped up again." 9ers Diner started the fundraiser and asked Donut Land to work with them on it. 9ers Diner is offering the Nashburger, which is a half-pound smash burger with American cheese, bacon, fig jam and glazed Donut Land doughnuts as buns. Donut Land will be selling mint chocolate chip long John doughnuts called the Nash Donut. Amanda Rienerth is the operator of Donut Land. She said the employees there are always wanting to come up with something new. At first, chocolate chips were added to vanilla cream, and then someone suggested making a mint chocolate chip doughnut. "It's kind of been on the back burner for a few weeks," she said. "Then when we knew that we wanted to do something special for Nash, we're like this would be a perfect time to bring it up because it's something new that people would like to try." The Nash Donut costs $3.19, and at least $2 of every doughnut sold will go toward Nash, Rienerth said. The reception of the doughnut has been very positive so far. "Oh my gosh, people are loving them," she said. "They're telling us that we better carry them all the time." Donut Land had never partnered with 9ers Diner before, so Nash's cause brought them together, Rienerth said. "I think it's important for children with developmental disabilities to have the support they need in life to live as independently as possible," she said. "I think that him having a service dog would just bring him a ton of independence." Faith Szczepinski said her family loves the Nash Donut, and she keeps going back to buy it. "(Nash) recognizes it when we bring it home and show him," she said. "He gets all excited and does his little happy dances." Some of the money from the fundraiser will go toward another family who has a child with autism that is in the process of getting a service dog, Faith Szczepinski said. Another portion of the money will go to the ADNP Research Foundation. Nash will be able to receive his dog in about a year and a half to two years, she said. They will get the official date probably sometime this winter. She said she is humbled and thankful for the community support for her son. "I'm not surprised because I've lived here since I was a baby," Faith Szczepinski said. "(Brunswick) always just rallies for each other, and they're always Brunswick strong for each other, but I think when it's you and your family that the people are supporting, it's a totally different feel." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.