National Doughnut Day, the first Friday in June, isn’t just another food holiday.
The Salvation Army established the day in 1938 to commemorate the “Doughnut Lassies,” women from the Salvation Army who were sent to France during World War I and began making doughnuts to give to soldiers to remind them of home.
A piece of that history is retained each year on National Doughnut Day, which is known for bakeries giving away free donuts.
Krispy Kreme is offering one free doughnut June 3, with no purchase necessary. But the company encourages customers to donate to the Salvation Army’s miniature Red Kettles near the cash registers. All donations will support local communities.
LaMar’s Donuts has a similar deal — one free doughnut, no purchase necessary, and there’s a Salvation Army donation kettle available throughout June. LaMar’s will donate part of its proceeds this week to Salvation Army programs that give meals to kids who need them. (To get one free doughnut at LaMar’s, print and present their Golden Ticket.)
LaMar’s also will partner with the Salvation Army’s “Doughnut Lassies” at 10 a.m. June 3 to serve doughnuts and coffee to 170 veterans at the Colorado Veterans Community Living Center in Aurora.
Dunkin’ Donuts is giving a free doughnut (while supplies last) with the purchase of a beverage, and Tom+Chee in Fort Collins is offering $2 grilled cheese doughnuts — made with cheddar cheese between two halves of a grilled glazed doughnut — to celebrate the day.
Entenmann’s Bakery is promoting its “Win Free Donuts for a Year” contest on National Doughnut Day. The Facebook sweepstakes will have 10 grand-prize winners who’ll get free doughnuts for a year, and all entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. EDT on July 2. (For more details go to entenmanns.com.) For each person who enters the contest, $1 will be donated to the Salvation Army up to $35,000.
