Your Guide to Free Donuts
Chains Nationwide Offer Free Doughnuts and Deals to Celebrate National Donut Day on June 5
National Donut Day falls on June 5, and dozens of chains across the U.S. are handing out free doughnuts to mark the occasion. WTXL, NBC26, and other local outlets confirm that Dunkin', Krispy Kreme, and Shipley Do-Nuts are among the biggest names with deals running all day.
The holiday is older than most people realize. The Salvation Army created it in 1938 in Chicago — first as a fundraiser during the Great Depression, and as a tribute to the women who fried doughnuts for U.S. troops in World War I.
Free Doughnuts From the Biggest Chains Today
Dunkin' is offering a free classic doughnut with any drink purchase — no special code needed. The deal runs all day at participating locations. Newsweek notes this is Dunkin's 16th straight year running the promotion, making it one of the most consistent free-food offers in fast food.
Krispy Kreme is selling an Original Glazed Dozen for just $2.00 when you buy any regularly priced dozen, according to Business Wire. Shipley Do-Nuts is going even further — CEO Flynn Dekker turned the single-day event into "National Donut Month," giving away free doughnuts every Friday in June. He called it a "thank-you" to loyal customers after 90 years in business.
7-Eleven and Other Budget-Friendly Deals to Know
Not a Dunkin' or Krispy Kreme regular? 7-Eleven is selling classic glazed doughnuts for just $0.50 to 7-Rewards app members today. That price undercuts most specialty chains by a wide margin. Tim Hortons is also running a "Battle of the Donuts" contest with a $10,000 grand prize for fans who submit custom recipes, according to Her Campus.
The WWI Story Behind the Holiday
The holiday traces back to roughly 250 Salvation Army volunteers — called "Donut Lassies" — who traveled to France in 1917 during World War I. They cooked doughnuts for soldiers on the front lines, sometimes using soldiers' helmets as makeshift fryers. By the end of the war, they were making around 9,000 doughnuts a day, according to the Salvation Army San Diego.
When veterans came home, they brought a craving for doughnuts with them. That craving helped turn the treat into an American staple. The Salvation Army launched the first official National Donut Day in 1938 to honor those women and raise money for people hit hard by the Great Depression. Commissioner Merle Heatwole says the holiday still "honors the remarkable legacy" of those volunteers.
Dunkin' Teams Up With Stoney Clover Lane on Donut Merch
Dunkin' is not just giving away food today. At 10:00 AM ET, the chain launched a new accessories line with lifestyle brand Stoney Clover Lane, according to Quartz. The collection includes a donut box-shaped pouch and a crossbody bag — the bag retails for $98. Last year's version sold out almost instantly.
Dunkin' Chief Marketing Officer Jill Nelson said the collaboration aims to make the day "even sweeter." Co-founders Kendall and Libby Glazer of Stoney Clover Lane said they were "blown away" by demand from the previous drop. Business Insider has described this kind of limited merch strategy as a "Gen Z-focused drop" built around viral moments rather than menu changes.
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