The first Friday of June just happens to be National Donut Day. That means you might just score a free donut at one of Carroll County's 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.
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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
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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.
In any case the tradition continues Friday with area donut shops handing out free (or almost-free) donuts.
(Editor's note: Some of this story was originally published on Patch on National Donut Day last year, in 2012.)
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