BakeMark C.E.O. Bill Day served donuts to veterans living at The Haven, a Salvation Army facility for homeless veterans in Los Angeles.

BakeMark, Los Angeles, sponsored National Donut Day events in Los Angeles and Cincinnati on June 4, which celebrates the national treat as well as veterans.

For a second year, BakeMark donated $10,000 to The Salvation Army’s Haven program in Los Angeles, a facility that serves 2,000 homeless and at-risk veterans every year. The company also co-sponsored the Greater Cincinnati Retail Baker’s Association’s National Donut Day celebration, donating $2,500 to The Salvation Army of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

More than 1,000 BakeMark customers across both regions displayed posters in windows to promote the events. Consumers were encouraged to buy donuts from participating stores on Donut Day. Stan’s Donuts, Los Angeles, provided donuts for about 200 veterans who attended the event in West Los Angeles. In Cincinnati, local bakers provided about 1,000 free donuts to the lunchtime crowd. The family-friendly event featured local celebrities in donut-themed challenges, including donut sliding, donut stacking and donut hole toss.

The history of National Donut Day dates back to World War I when Salvation Army women volunteers prepared donuts for thousands of homesick soldiers.

“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate National Donut Day–which has its roots in service to our veterans–than to honor the men and women who have served our country,” said Bill Day, president and C.E.O. of BakeMark. “The Salvation Army has always been committed to helping our veterans, and we at BakeMark are proud to support its programs.”