National Doughnut Day 2018: Get Free Doughnuts, Deals In Illinois

Friday, June 1, is National Doughnut Day, and a few chains are offering deals. In Illinois, people are most likely to choose doughnuts from Dunkin' Donuts, according to a survey that shows it to be our favorite.

You may have other ideas. The offers.com survey sample size was small — 1,000 consumers answered a Google Survey asking them about their favorite types of doughnuts and which chains are their favorites.

Classic glazed doughnuts are Americans’ favorites, according to survey, which showed the lightly frosted doughnuts to be the top choice of 48 percent of respondents. Coming in a distant second were Boston cream doughnuts (17 percent), followed by jelly doughnuts (12 percent), doughnuts with sprinkles (7 percent), powdered doughnuts (6 percent) and twist doughnuts (6 percent).

National Doughnut Day dates back to 1938, when The Salvation Army of Chicago created it to honor the “Doughnut Girls” who served doughnuts to soldiers in World War I. The unofficial holiday is celebrated every year on the first Friday in June.

Though the honorary salute to the “Doughnut Girls” wouldn’t begin until years later, two Salvation Army volunteers — Ensign Margaret Sheldon and Adjutant Helen Purviance — came up with the idea of frying doughnuts in soldiers’ helmets after they and about 250 others were deployed to France to provide spiritual and emotional support for U.S. soldiers.

“These tasty treats boosted morale and won the hearts of many soldiers,” The Salvation Army’s Metropolitan Division in Chicago said on its website.

Also known as the “Doughnut Lassies,” these volunteers are credited with popularizing the doughnut in the United States when troops, who were known as “doughboys,” returned home from the war. The tradition, which provided a link to home and family, continued in World War II.

If you’re looking for some great deals on doughnuts, here are some in Illinois:

• Dunkin’ Donuts, which has more than 7,600 locations nationwide, is offering a free classic doughnut — including favorites like Boston Kreme, glazed and Strawberry Frosted with Sprinkles — with the purchase of any beverage on June 1.
• Entenmann’s, which sells its doughnuts in grocery stores nationwide, has a pretty fun contest going on. The classic pastry company is soliciting applications for the honorary position of Chief Donut Officer, which comes with a year's worth of doughnuts and a $5,000 cash award. Four runners up will receive $1,000 and a one-year supply of doughnuts.
• Krispy Kreme, which has more than 300 stores nationwide and three in Illinois (Homewood, Evergreen Park and Elk Grove Village), is offering a free doughnut of the customer’s choice on June 1. No purchase is necessary.

Non-chain deals

Don't want to go the national chain route? Here are some of the best Illinois doughnut shops, according to Best Things Illinois:

Home Cut Donuts, Inc., Joliet: A local favorite for more than 50 years. On Friday, they'll partner with Iron&Glass in Romeoville to offer a special deal: Get a free Home Cut Donut with a purchase of a 10-ounce pour of Brickstone Dark Secret at the taproom, 632 S. Weber Road.

Do-Rite Donuts & Coffee, Chicago: With three locations, Do-Rite will let you skip the line on Doughnut Day and order online through the end of the day Thursday.

Firecakes Donuts, Chicago. Firecakes is doing a National Doughnut Day giveaway:

Spunky Dunkers, Palatine: They have a secret menu.

Country Donuts, Elgin: They say they've been offering "the freshest, tastiest donuts in the Chicago area for 30 years."

More Doughnut Day fun

The Salvation Army will partner with Entenmann's to host "Do Good Donut Parties" in Illinois, but not in the Chicago area. Those events include:

• The Peoria Veterans Outreach Center will host an “open house” for veterans, providing donuts, coffee, and fellowship.

• The Salvation Army of Quincy will distribute donuts to veterans at a special assembly at the Illinois Veterans Home. Donuts will also be delivered to those veterans who are unable to leave their units or rooms. A Salvation Army brass band will perform patriotic music during a short presentation on the history of the Donut Lassies and The Salvation Army’s connection to military veterans.

• The Salvation Army of Danville will visit the local VA medical center to provide donuts and visit with veterans.

Photo via Shutterstock / media_digital