Liz Biro

liz.biro@indystar.com

One of the joys of Salvation Army National Donut Day is the chance to score free doughnuts. The annual celebration on the first Friday of June gives doughnut shop owners a warm fuzzy feeling. Some of them are giving away doughnuts on June 3. Others do BOGO deals. Either way, it's free calories, but arrive early. Lots of shops run of out doughnuts quickly, and not just the free ones.

1. Square Donuts on Monument Circle

If it weren't for a Hoosier, you might not be celebrating National Doughnut Day. When Salvation Army ensign Helen Purviance, a Fort Wayne native, decided to fry doughnuts for World War I soldiers on the front lines, she put doughnuts on track to become an American favorite. When troops returned home from the war, they wanted those doughnuts, creating a market that just keeps growing. In 1938 the Salvation Army created Donut Day, which became National Doughnut Day. The idea is to honor the men and women who served doughnuts to World War I troops. Hit the Salvation Army National Doughnut Day celebration on Monument Circle starting at 6 a.m. June 3. Volunteers will pass out 2,500 Square Donuts doughnuts. Additionally, radio station WIBC-FM 93.1 hosts #DonutDayIndy, a competition to select Indy's best doughnut. Lucky me! I'm a judge.

2. Taylor's Bakery

6216 Allisonville Road, (317) 251-9575

8395 E. 116th St., Fishers, (317) 596-2253

If you're already craving pumpkin-spice everything, good news. Both Taylor's locations will give away 1,500 pumpkin spice doughnuts that Taylor's usually releases only in fall. No purchase is necessary, but you may want to consider buying a dozen doughnuts and getting a dozen free. The BOGO special is good for any doughnuts.

How a Hoosier veteran made the doughnut famous

3. Krispy Kreme

1940 Executive Drive, (317) 244-1682

Get any doughnut, free. You don't even have to buy a coffee.

4. Titus Bakery

820 W. South St., Lebanon, (765) 482-1740

The Salvation Army's female volunteers who served doughnuts to troops during World War I were called "Donut Girls." A Donut Girl in period costume hands out doughnut holes at the shop. Kids who go on the shop's scavenger hunt get a free doughnut for participating. Radio Mom 91.1-FM gives away a dozen doughnuts every hour from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Get $1 Boar's Head hot dogs and free Pepsi samples.

5. Rocket 88

874 Virginia Ave., (317) 737-2614

4909 N. College Ave., (317) 602-6843

Clerks at this organic, all-natural doughnut shop pass out free doughnut holes while supplies last. The first 10 customers at both locations receive a $10 gift card for future purchases.

6. Dunkin' Donuts

Get a free classic doughnut of your choice (while supplies last) with a beverage purchase. The offer is good all day June 3. Classics include jelly-filled, cinnamon sugar, blueberry, Bavarian cream, chocolate-frosted and coconut, among others.

7. Market District

11505 N. Illinois St., Carmel, (317) 569-0171

A free doughnut comes with every hot or cold "dispensed beverage." That means things like fountain drinks and coffee in a cup. Purchase a half-dozen doughnuts and get a half-dozen free when you use your Advantage Card. Hit Market District's nearby GetGo convenience store for a free doughnut with the purchase of any size coffee.

Call Liz Biro at (317) 444-6264. Follow her on Twitter @lizbiro, Instagram @lizbirodish, Facebook and Pinterest.