Friday is National Doughnut Day. It’s the perfect way to celebrate as Allegheny, Westmoreland and surrounding counties are headed into the “green phase” of the state’s coronavirus action plan.

Always the first Friday of June, National Doughnut Day highlights everyone’s favorite cylindrical breakfast treat.

Oakmont Bakery owner Marc Serrao said his business has created several special doughnuts to mark the occasion, as well as several other tributes.

National Doughnut Day was founded by the Salvation Army in 1938 to honor their members who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I.

“It was a really big deal what they did,” Serrao said. “Nobody knew about doughnuts yet. They would get the men’s helmets, turn them upside down, fill them with oil, put them over a fire, make dough balls and fry them.”

Serrao said the bakery will donate 600 doughnuts for a local Salvation Army branch to serve at the Aspinwall Veteran’s Hospital, and have a red kettle at the Oakmont shop to collect donations for the charity.

“I think the Salvation Army’s such a great organization,” he said.

All purchases made at Oakmont Bakery Friday come with a free doughnut.

Specialty doughnuts include chocolate-covered strawberry, ones with blueberry creme filling and others that taste similar to Girl Scout Samoa cookies.

Friday is also the day that Allegheny, Westmoreland counties and other parts of Western Pennsylvania move into the green phase of the state’s gradual economic reopening plan during the covid-19 pandemic.

Hair salons, barber shops, restaurants and other businesses shuttered for coronavirus safety precautions will be allowed to resume in-person operations under strict guidelines.

Serrao said half of the indoor dining area, about 60 seats, will be reopened and will accommodate social distancing. Outside seating will be available, as well.

The shop also created a key lime doughnuts with a cream cheese icing to celebrate the move to green.

Maintaining operations during the pandemic and business closures “has been a really big struggle,” Serrao said. “I wouldn’t want to be a person making the decisions to do all this. We kind of learned as we went along. The business was in shock.”

Oakmont Bakery was allowed to operate as an essential business because it processes its own food, Serrao said.

More doughnuts

Bethel Bakery will host a two-day celebration at its Bethel Park and North Strabane locations. The doughnut-themed parties are 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m.-5 p.m. at Bethel Park and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at North Strabane.

Bethel Bakery will offer a variety of doughnuts from its classic pretzel and buttercream doughnuts to filled and cake varieties. It also will bring back the popular Paçzki in the five best-selling flavors — French buttercream, chocolate buttercream, raspberry, Bavarian cream and fresh strawberry. All items will be available for in-store purchase and curbside pickup.

Dunkin’ is celebrating the occasion with a cheerful spoof of the presidential election year by introducing The Donut Party, “celebrating all things doughnut and uniting people across the country with the sweet treat they deserve.”

On Friday, Dunkin’ guests get a free classic doughnut with the purchase of any beverage at participating restaurants nationwide, while supplies last.

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