It seems like every single day of the year is a food holiday, but the first Friday of June may just be the most important one — National Doughnut Day! That’s right: This coming Friday, June 3, is a whole day devoted to the mother of all desserts, the almighty doughnut.
This isn’t just another arbitrary food holiday either; National Doughnut Day actually has a pretty cool history involving The Salvation Army. In 1917, 250 Salvation Army volunteers, led by Margaret Sheldon and Helen Purviana, were looking for a way to provide some much-needed comfort to U.S. troops who were fighting on the front lines in France during WWI. They came up with the idea to fry them up some doughnuts — a surefire comfort food. This earned the volunteers the nickname “Doughnut Lassies,” and these ladies are credited with popularizing the doughnut in America. In 1938, The Salvation Army celebrated the very first National Doughnut Day in honor of the Lassies.
Now, 78 years later, you can still pay homage to the Doughnut Lassies while enjoying a delicious and free doughnut on this hole-y day. Here's your guide to where you can get freebies this Friday, June 3.
Krispy Kreme: This year, the beloved chain is partnering with The Salvation Army to provide a free doughnut of your choice at participating locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Dunkin' Donuts: Get a free doughnut of your choice at shops worldwide with the purchase of any beverage.
LaMar's Donuts: Print or show this Golden Ticket to get a free doughnut this Friday. The offer does not include specialty doughnuts.
Cumberland Farms: Get one free doughnut with the purchase of a coffee or Chill Zone beverage. The offer runs from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m at any new or newly remodeled locations of the convenience store.
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