JMDSportsTalk

Today, on June 6th, 2025, I had the distinct pleasure of finding out that it was National Donut Day while in the drive through of Dunkin Donuts.

Okay, let me back up a bit…I love Dunking Donuts. I have loved Dunkin since I can remember. I used to go there with my grandmother after spending the night at her house, order a double chocolate donut and a dozen glazed munchkins (donut holes if you don’t know) and then go back and watch SportsCenter’s top 10 while she read in her rocking chair.

Getting older, my dad always tried to start little traditions that I really appreciate now and definitely want to keep going whenever I have children of my own. One of these traditions he coined as “Dunkin Friday” where he would wake my brother and I up early and take us to get Dunkin before school started. And I mean early…like 5:00 AM and we’d be the only people eating in the restaurant. That’s where I dove head first into their sandwiches…their croissant is still one of my favorite fast food breakfast items and I don’t care who says it stinks. It doesn’t. it’s a nostalgic food for me, and I still get it often when I’m now headed into work.Anyways, as you can probably tell I love this joint.

Nowadays, the $6 meal deal is the go-to and if I’m feeling a little extra hungry just slap on a boston cream donut to that order…okay, back to today. So, to my delight I saw that Dunkin, being the high-class establishment that they are, was treating customers to a free donut with a purchase of a drink on National Donut Day. I was excited, grinning from ear to ear because even though I wasn’t too hungry this morning I would be getting that boston cream donut with my order. For free. Now, I can’t physically even think of the last time that I have had a bad experience with a Dunkin Donuts. My order is always right, they are very consistent when making the drinks and food, and nothing is ever bad enough to complain about. But today, on National Donut Day of all days, the cashier seemed almost to be trying to hide that they were giving away a free donut with the purchase of a drink…so I ordered the $6 meal deal, iced vanilla coffee with cream and the BEC (bacon egg n cheese) on a bagel and just sort of expected to hear “hey, today on national donut day we are giving away a free donut with the purchase of your drink/meal deal”…But it was crickets..

At this point, my mouth is watering, rushing with the thoughts of the flavors of a boston cream donut and vanilla iced coffee paired together (goat combo). There is no chance that I leave this line without a boston cream donut. None. So I waited a few seconds after she said “anything else?” as I’m just racing with the thought of how could she just ignore the fact that I should be getting a free donut? On National Donut Day of all days. I feel bamboozled by a brand that I have been loyal to ever since my grandmother, god rest her soul, had been taking me to the branch off of 71st and Ashland…maybe if they knew my loyalty to them they would treat me better? Or maybe I’m just over exaggerating…or maybe not I don’t know I just feel let down by my favorite fast food breakfast place man..it sucks.I put my order in for the boston cream and drive up to the window, as I saw on the screen that the donut was going to be charged to the bill.

I’m wrecked emotionally. My weekend is ruined and I don’t really know how I’m going to recover from this. I pull up to the window, hand her my card, she swipes it and hands me my drink. She then hands me my card and turns to grab the food. All I can think about is how I should have gotten this donut for free. She turns back with an unusual bag that says “National Donut Day” and she says the best thing I’ve heard all morning “here is your free donut for National Donut Day”.

I knew it. Dunkin could never let me down. I’m back to grinning ear to ear and give her my sincerest of thanks. My day is back, I’m elated, I love Dunkin Donuts, I might win the lottery, I need to tell somebody about this – all rushing through my head. Here I was just a few moments ago ready to turn on the brand I’ve been loyal too since I was 7 years old. Never again will I question Dunkin Donuts. My loyalty is here to stay. Let me tell ya, the food and drink were as consistent as it always is. Hits the spot and I’m on my way to work with a smile on my face.

I hope everyone can achieve this level of happiness just once in their lives.

Thanks for reading, and Happy National Donut Day!

I’ll see you on the next tee box.