West Haven Dunkin' Donuts Customers Help Save a Heart

Lining up in droves at two local Dunkin’ Donuts, the West Haven community rallied this past Valentine’s Day to help teenage resident, Rajay Linton, who is about to undergo heart transplant surgery. Collectively, the community purchased 2,519 donuts from two D’Andrea Network Dunkin’ Donuts franchises at 305 Captain Thomas Blvd. and 985 Orange Ave. For every donut purchased, the family-owned business donated $1 to Linton’s Go Fund Me campaign. D’Andrea Network has 13 Dunkin’ Donuts stores in Killingworth, Clinton, Guilford, West Haven, Orange and Milford.

Blossom Linton-King, Linton’s aunt who has recently become his legal guardian, said many of her friends and those who know the teen from Baily Middle School in West Haven came out on Friday, Feb. 13 and Sat. Feb. 14 to purchase donuts to support the teen.

Traditionally one of the busiest donut sales days of the year, Nicole Ball, franchisee of D’Andrea Network, said her stores sold over 100% more donuts this year – a direct reflection of the community’s support for Linton.

Maria Rivera, manager of the store on Captain Thomas Boulevard said customers were purchasing donuts by the dozen for Linton and leaving them on the tables in the dining area for other guests to eat for free. One woman pre-ordered 25 dozen the night before the promotion, added Rivera.

Linton-King said she and her family are now traveling to New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children Hospital’s about once a week in preparation for the 14-year-old’s heart transplant, which can happen any day. Linton-King said the family has to be ready to bring him to the hospital within three hours of receiving a call that a heart has arrived for transplant.

The young Linton is carrying on like a normal teen keeping busy with school and his brother Cyril King, Linton King’s 13-year-old son, she said.

Linton-King, an employee of Yale-New Haven Hospital, said her family has health insurance for Linton but the funds raised by the D’Andrea Network stores and the Go Fund Me campaign will help offset the medical bills, her travel to New York and the expected three-to-four-month recovery period following surgery. Linton-King said she was worried about living expenses as she’ll be out of work following her son’s surgery. The money raised will help, she said. “Words can not express my gratitude for your donations for Rajay,” she added.

The small bit of help Linton King has received hardly offsets the challenges she and the young Linton have faced.

Linton, who was born with congenital heart disease in Jamaica, was raised by his father and grandparents after his mother left him in the hospital as a toddler. He came to live in West Haven in 2012 after tragically losing all three of his caregivers in Jamaica – Linton-King’s mother, father and brother all passed away in span of three years.

Remaining optimistic about the future, Linton-King is hopeful that the transplant will give Linton a chance at a normal future and will give her family a chance to raise their new son. When he grows up, the smiley and optimist Linton said he has his sights set on being a filmmaker but first might apply for a job at Dunkin’ Donuts.

Photo Credit: D’Andrea Network

Left to Right Top: Aiesha Padilla, Nicole Ball, Chesmaries Rodriguez, Jennifer , Juan Patino, Blossom Linton-King, Maria River and Ernie Cruz.

Left to Right Bottom: Rajay Linton, Ken Ellis and Cyril King