Is it National Donut Day or National Doughnut Day?  Either way, the national holiday is celebrated in the United States and in some other countries, is on the first Friday of June of each year. The first doughnut event created by The Salvation Army in Chicago in 1938 to honor those of their members who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I. Many local doughnut stores offer free doughnuts or specials on this sweet occasion.

Krispy Kreme is offering a FREE doughnut today. The offer is only valid in participating stores, not online, and can only be redeemed once per guest. However, it excludes limited-time-only doughnuts such as the Dolly Parton collection.

Additionally, customers can get $2 Original Glazed dozens with the purchase of any dozen. The offer can be redeemed in the shop or online for pickup and delivery, and for online orders, just place two dozens in your cart and use the promo code “BOGO2.”

Parlor Doughnuts mentioned on their social media "Get ready to celebrate National Doughnut Day in style because this Friday is going to be absolutely SWEET!  Stay tuned for some incredible deals and mouthwatering treats that will make your day extra special - you won't want to miss out on all the delicious fun!"

Other great locations in Gulf Shores for doughnuts include: Lickin Good Donuts and Publix.

DOUGHNUT HISTORY:

A little sweet dough never hurt anyone. In fact, to the 1917 “Doughboys” sweet dough originally called “oily cakes” brought a sense of hope to Americans on the front lines. The first American infantrymen sent overseas coined the nickname “Doughboys” during WWI. These American soldiers were armed and trained to approach front-line battles on foot. In 1917, the Salvation Army sent their own group of Americans to Europe. The volunteers would go on to earn their very own nicknames and are still celebrated to this day. 

The Salvation Army Lassies were a group of women who took to the seas to serve the Doughboys of the front lines with warm sugary inspirational treats. The men used metal helmets in those days, and the Lassies were known to cook up fresh batches of oily cakes right inside them and pass them out to the front-line soldiers. 

We honor our troops all day every day, often forgetting the lesser-known heroes of past wars.

These women risked their own lives, often leaving family and responsibilities behind to serve our country, from helmet bakeries to the mouths of the soldiers fighting for our freedom. These Lassies bore the weather changes, and the sounds of war, and marched on to cook up warm meals to remind the men of home. 

Twenty-one years after the Lassies sweet treat phenomenon in 1938 and every year since on the first Friday of June we contemplate the women who distributed doughnuts to soldiers in World War I. A day that started as a fundraiser to offer aid to those suffering from the Great Depression is now a day nationally remembered.