National Doughnut Day 2018: Where To Find Deals In Virginia

Friday, June 1, is National Doughnut Day, and a few chains are offering deals. In Virginia, people are most likely to choose doughnuts from the national chain Krispy Kreme, according to a survey. Although folks are also pretty passionate about Duck Donuts, which has locations in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Woodbridge, and Fredericksburg, among other locations.

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).

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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 Virginia:

Duck Donuts locations, found primarily on the East Coast, but also in the Midwest, California and Texas, will offer each customer a free bare, cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar doughnut on June 1. In Virginia the chain has shops in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Woodbridge, Fredericksburg, Bristow, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Stafford, and more. Find the location closest to you here.

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.

Fractured Prune Doughnuts is offering a free OC Sand doughnut at participating stores on June 1. The chain has locations in Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia. You can find them in Virginia at 1604 Village Market Blvd, Suite 120 in Leesburg; while if you're at the beach you can find one at 20214 Coastal Highway in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and there are seven locations in Ocean City, Maryland.

Krispy Kreme, which has more than 300 stores nationwide, is offering a free doughnut of the customer’s choice on June 1. No purchase is necessary.

Walmart, with more than 6,300 stores across the country, is a huge purveyor of doughnuts. The nation's biggest retail chain plans to give away 1.2 million full-sized glazed doughnuts from its bakeries, while supplies last. Every Walmart in the country will participate in the giveaway.

Tim Hortons will offer a Honey Dip Donut Breakfast Sandwich during breakfast hours on June 1. The Canadian coffee chain has U.S. locations in Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. The lone Virginia location is at 9230 7th Ave, Building Sp-28, in Norfolk.

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