Where to Get a Free Donut on National Donut Day

The first Friday of June just happens to be National Donut Day. That means you might just score a free donut at one of Riverdale Park's nearby donut emporiums.

How did a hunk of fried dough with a hole in the middle get its own day?

National Donut Day has its roots in the trenches of World War I, when war-weary soldiers would take a break by stopping by a "hut" — a makeshift coffee shop — where "lassies" doled out coffee and donuts. In 1938, the Salvation Army in Chicago wanted to recognize those women's efforts and started National Donut Day, which falls on the first Friday in June each year.

Nowadays, National Donut Day efforts in some cities include fundraisers associated with the Salvation Army. Others simply recognize the doughy confection by handing out free donuts.

Where to Get Free Donuts

Dunkin' Donuts will be handing out free donuts, only if you purchase a beverage, according to its Web site. You can find a Dunkin' Donuts near you here. 

There are two Dunkin' Donuts shops located in nearby Hyattsville—one at 2790 Belcrest Center Dr., near Prince George's Plaza metro station, and one at 3030 Queens Chapel Rd. There's also a Dunkin' Donuts in Greenbelt at 5900 Greenbelt Rd. and one in College Park at 9701 Baltimore Ave. 

Krispy Kreme, which celebrated its 75th anniversary last year, is offering a sweet deal: All you have to do is show up, no purchase necessary, for a free donut of your choice (one per customer). However, you'll have to head to Rockville or DC to cash in on that deal. 

(Editor's note: Some of this story was originally published on Patch on National Donut Day last year, in 2012.)