Customers buy out doughnut shop each morning so that owner can be with sick wife

Couple has run Southern California shop for nearly 30 years

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When a husband and wife from California were faced with a medical crisis, they specifically asked that no crowdfunding sites be set up on their behalf.

John and Stella Chhan have run a doughnut shop in Southern California for nearly 30 years.

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“It's a real American dream for them," a longtime customer said of the Chhans in a CNN report.

And the couple has worked hard for their piece of this dream, which is perhaps why they didn’t want any handouts. So instead, their loyal customers are coming out in droves to support the shop and the owners.

Stella recently suffered a brain aneurysm, and John wants to spend as much time as he can by her side. She’s currently in a nursing home, and the couple has some family in town to assist, as well.

But the couple still has a business to run, so the Chhans’ customers are flocking to their Donut City shop each morning to buy out the day’s inventory.

Once they learned of the situation, they were more than happy to lend a hand.

CNN reports that most days, patrons start lining up at 4:30 a.m., cash in hand, ready to buy out the doughnuts and coffee. By 7:30 a.m., the bins are typically empty, and John can go care for his wife.

Customers said they are simply giving back the good cheer the Chhans have handed out over the decades.

"Every Sunday for 20 years, we've been purchasing doughnuts," another long-time customer said. "It's one of the few things that's still here. He makes them fresh and brings them right there in the mornings.”

Others shared stories of how happy, friendly and dedicated the couple always seemed.

"I am very appreciative," John said of the effort.