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Old Town Donuts is teaming with The Salvation Army and Schnucks to celebrate the Salvation Army’s 77^th Annual Donut Day. More than 2,000 donuts will be provided to military veterans at 13 locations around the St. Louis area on June 6, the 70th anniversary of the Allied Forces’ D-Day invasion of Normandy in 1944.

Old Town Donuts will also offer two  free donuts to any active U.S. military personnel with identification on National Donut Day at its two locations, 508 New Florissant Road in Old Town Florissant and 3941 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in Cottleville.

“Coincidentally, this year’s National Donut Day falls on the 70th anniversary of D-Day,” said Keith Took, owner of Old Town Donuts. “We are forever grateful to the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces in World War II and at all times in the defense of our country and the freedom we hold sacred. We are honored to team with The Salvation Army and Schnucks in delivering donuts to our military men and women at numerous locations throughout the St. Louis area.”

Started as a fund-raiser by The Salvation Army in Chicago during the Great Depression, National Donut Day honors our military veterans and commemorates the work of Salvation Army volunteers who used the tasty confection to comfort American soldiers in France and Germany during World War I.

Female volunteers called “Doughnut Lassies” and “Doughnut Girls” fried the donuts in soldiers’ helmets and served countless treats to troops as well as providing writing supplies, stamps, clothes-mending and home-cooked meals.  The donut has since become a long-standing symbol of the services and comforts which The Salvation Army provides.

This year, The Salvation Army returns to its roots with the help of Old Town Donuts and Schnucks by delivering more than 2,000 donuts to area veterans to let veterans know how much their service to their country is appreciated.

Donut Drop-offs will be made at The Salvation Army Veterans Residence downtown, the John Cochran Veterans’ Administration Hospital on Grand, the Jefferson Barracks VA Hospital in South St. Louis County, the Missouri USO at Lambert St. Louis International Airport, Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, the Missouri Veterans’ Home in North St. Louis County, the Hope Recovery Center and clinics in North St. Louis, North St. Louis County, St. Charles, Belleville, the Continental Building, Washington Avenue and Manchester Avenue.