Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Aurora Police officer Graciano Flores volunteers his time outside the North Farnsworth Avenue Dunkin’ Donuts in an effort to raise money for Illinois Special Olympics. In 2013, Aurora Police officers and support personnel raised more than $23,000.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

AURORA — The Dunkin’ Donuts on North Farnsworth Avenue in Aurora May 30 had some traffic-slowing construction out front, but it may have actually aided donations for the Illinois Special Olympics.

“It’s a great turnout today. I think the construction might slow the traffic down, but it might direct some people in here while they wait,” said officer Mike Carrasco, who was one of the Aurora police officers participating in the Cop on Top donation drive.

The team included Carrasco, officer Graciano Flores, and booking officers Linda Conard and Shari Clark.

Two years ago, the Farnsworth Avenue store had the lowest amount of donations out of the four Dunkin’ Donuts locations the Aurora police department visits during Cop on Top. This year, the team hoped to push it out front.
“We turned it around, it was second highest last year,” said Flores.

The reason, Carrasco said, is the friendly demeanor of these officers.

“We’re friendly people, we’re willing to talk and get out there and ask,” he said. “It also helps to be bilingual, you can explain to people in Spanish and they usually donate.”

Everyone also agreed the rate of donations at all locations is unusually high.

“It always amazes me the percentage of customers who donate,” said Dave Bohman, president of the Citizen Police Academy Alumni of Aurora, who took donations inside the store. “With other charities, you might get 5 or 10 percent of people donating. Here it’s more like 80 to 90 percent. We like to think it’s because it’s such a great cause.”

The officer’s friendliness was thanked by one woman who had her child with special needs in the car. She was looking for more information on the Special Olympics.

“It’s really cool to see people. That kid could end up being a participant in the Special Olympics,” said Flores.

“When you see the people the charity helps firsthand, it’s really cool,” Flores explained.

In 2013, Aurora Police officers and support personnel raised more than $23,000 to help Special Olympics Illinois continue to provide year-round training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

This past March, a team of Aurora Police officers, their family members, and support employees raised $5,100 during the annual “Polar Plunge” in Yorkville.

Several more fund raisers for Special Olympics are planned by Aurora Police throughout the remainder of the year.