In conjunction with its annual donut giveaway, LaMar’s Donuts will spotlight health care, childcare, education and first-responder professionals with its Essential Service Awards.

The donut chain will celebrate National Donut Day on Friday, June 5 by doubling its annual free donut giveaway to health care, childcare, education and first-responder professionals and also by giving away a year’s worth of donuts to winners of its first Essential Service Awards.

LaMar’s is asking the public for nominations for the awards, which will spotlight public service professionals who have provided extraordinary community service during the coronavirus pandemic. Nominations for anyone in the teaching, childcare, health care or police-fire-EMT occupations can be submitted at LaMars.com/EssentialService, along with an explanation of why the nominee is deserving.

According to Matt Joslin, president of LaMar’s Donuts, the Essential Service Awards were inspired by customer response to the April launch of a donut hotline for employees of hospitals caring for coronavirus patients.

“We agreed with customers who told us that other contributors in the battle against the virus were just as deserving,” Joslin says. “There's no better occasion than National Donut Day to show our thanks for unsung community heroes who help us live our lives as normally as possible during trying times.”

On National Donut Day, LaMar’s will also give two free donuts to anyone presenting evidence of employment in public service – a business card, a name plate or badge, or a uniform, for example. All other members of the public will receive one free donut. No purchase is required in either case.