Celebrating the Educators Who Inspire Our Communities
As Teacher Appreciation Week comes to a close, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the educators who make a difference in the lives of students every single day.
Teachers, administrators, and school staff do far more than educate. They encourage, mentor, support, and inspire the next generation. Their impact reaches far beyond the classroom, shaping communities and helping students build the confidence and skills they need to succeed.
At Bluemont, we are honored to recognize these everyday heroes.
A Growing Tradition of Gratitude
For the second year in a row, our teams across multiple markets came together to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week by delivering sweet treats, fun donuts, coffee, and heartfelt appreciation to schools throughout the communities we serve.
This year, we had the privilege of supporting more than 350 schools across our markets.
From elementary schools to high schools, our restaurant teams helped spread a little joy to the teachers, administrators, and support staff who dedicate themselves to students day after day.
Powered by Teamwork
One of the most meaningful parts of this initiative was seeing our own teams rally together to make it happen.
Coordinating deliveries to hundreds of schools takes planning, partnership, and a shared desire to serve others. Our team members embraced the opportunity to show gratitude and celebrate the educators who invest so much in their communities.
Their enthusiasm and commitment helped turn a simple gesture into a memorable tradition.
Thank You, Educators
To every teacher, administrator, counselor, office staff member, and school support professional: thank you.
Thank you for the early mornings, the extra hours, the patience, the encouragement, and the countless ways you help students learn and grow.
Your work matters, and your impact is felt far beyond the classroom.
We are grateful to our teams for making this week possible and proud to continue growing this tradition year after year.
Celebrating National Pay It Forward Day
This week, we celebrated National Pay It Forward Day by surprising guests at participating Dunkin’ locations with $5 gift cards to use on a future visit.
At each store, the 100th guest received Free Coffee for a Year, making for some especially memorable moments throughout the day.
What stood out most were the reactions. There were plenty of smiles, a few tears, and a lot of joy as guests received an unexpected thank-you.
It was a simple way to show our appreciation to the guests who choose Dunkin’ as part of their daily routines.
Good Citizen Month in Action: Brewing Joy Beyond the Coffee Cup
At Bluemont, hospitality extends far beyond the four walls of our restaurants. While coffee was brewing in our stores, team members in Greenville, South Carolina and Chattanooga, Tennessee were rolling up their sleeves and serving their communities as part of the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation’s Good Citizen Month.
This annual initiative encourages Dunkin’ franchisees and teams across the country to volunteer with local organizations that are making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families. For our teams, it was an opportunity to live out what we call Hometown Hospitality—showing up, giving back, and caring for the communities where we live and work.
Greenville, SC: Packing Senior Boxes at Harvest Hope Food Bank
In Greenville, our team partnered with Harvest Hope Food Bank to assemble monthly supplemental food boxes for local seniors. Together, they packed 384 boxes—equivalent to approximately 13,000 pounds of food—that will help ensure older adults in the community have access to nutritious meals.
Chattanooga, TN: Supporting Families Through the Chattanooga Area Food Bank
In Chattanooga, team members volunteered at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, where they packed family food boxes, labeled canned goods, and processed snack donations. In total, the team helped sort and prepare more than 7,200 pounds of food for distribution to families across the region.
More Than 20,000 Pounds of Impact
Combined, our Greenville and Chattanooga teams packed and processed more than 20,000 pounds of food in just two volunteer events.
The numbers are significant, but what matters most is the impact behind them: seniors receiving the support they need, families gaining access to meals, and team members experiencing the joy that comes from serving others.
Hometown Hospitality in Action
National Volunteer Week is a fitting reminder that hospitality is about more than what happens at the counter. It’s about being present in our communities, lending a hand, and helping meet real needs.
We are incredibly proud of our teams for representing Bluemont and Dunkin’ with compassion, energy, and a willingness to serve.
Dunkin’ Spreads Valentine’s Day Love to Patients at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
Dunkin’ donates $2 from every Valentine’s Day MUNCHKINS® Tin to support children nationwide
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 12, 2026) – In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Dunkin’ spread extra love to patients at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt with a morning of sweet treats and fun. In honor of the holiday, Dunkin’ surprised pediatric patients with heart-shaped donuts, limited-edition Valentine’s Day MUNCHKINS tins and festive coloring activities.
Patients at Monroe Carell were all smiles as they enjoyed the Valentine’s Day treats, providing a cheerful break from their daily treatments and a chance to show off their creativity.
“Sharing a little extra joy with pediatric patients at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt was a truly meaningful way to spread love this Valentine’s season,” said Emilly Bartels, Dunkin’ field marketing manager. “We were thrilled to add a touch of sweetness and help brighten their day.”
For those looking to share the love this Valentine’s Day, Dunkin’ will donate $2 from every Valentine’s Day MUNCHKINS Tin purchased to the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, helping bring joy to children battling hunger or illness nationwide.
Visit participating Dunkin’ locations now through Feb. 17 to enjoy the Valentine’s Day lineup – equal parts sweet, shareable and a little extra.
GivingTuesday: $88,065 Raised to Bring Joy Close to Home
At Bluemont, GivingTuesday is more than a moment—it’s a reflection of what’s possible when a community shows up for one another.
This year, thanks to the generosity of our guests and the dedication of our incredible store teams, we closed out November by raising an inspiring $88,065 for the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation. It’s a number we’re proud of—but even more meaningful is what it represents.
These funds stay close to home, supporting children in our local communities who are facing illness or hunger. Through grants and partnerships with local organizations, this support helps provide meals, comfort, and moments of joy when they’re needed most.
One moment from this campaign captured the heart of it all. A guest who had personally benefited from the Joy in Childhood Foundation stopped by to make a donation—an act that brought everything full circle. It was a powerful reminder that this work isn’t abstract. It’s personal. It’s real. And it makes a lasting difference.
Every dollar raised, every conversation had at the register, and every team member who encouraged participation played a role in this collective impact.
To everyone who donated, supported, and showed up—thank you. You are the reason joy continues to ripple through our communities.
At Bluemont, we believe joy is something we build together. And this GivingTuesday, you made that clearer than ever.
Brewing Joy Together: Supporting Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
At Bluemont, we believe that even the smallest moments—like a cup of iced coffee—can create something much bigger. Together with Dunkin’ and our incredible guests, we recently had the honor of turning those everyday moments into meaningful impact.
Last week, we proudly presented a $15,000 grant on behalf of the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. This contribution helps support the hospital’s mission and the dedicated child life specialists who bring comfort, care, and a sense of normalcy to children and families during challenging times.
Child life specialists play a vital role in the patient experience, offering emotional support, therapeutic play, and guidance that helps children navigate their healthcare journeys with courage and confidence. It’s work that leaves a lasting impression—not just on patients, but on their families and the broader community.
What makes this moment even more special is how it came to life. The funds were raised through National Iced Coffee Day, where every iced coffee purchased contributed directly to this cause. It’s a powerful reminder that something as simple as a daily routine can become an act of generosity.
To every guest who chose Dunkin’ that day, thank you. Your support made this possible. Every sip truly made a difference.
We’re grateful to partner with Dunkin’ and the Joy in Childhood Foundation to continue brewing joy in the communities we serve—and we look forward to creating even more moments of impact together.
From Behind the Counter to Behind Center
There are some stories that just stick with you, and this is one of them.
Former Dunkin’ team member J’Mar Smith is back under center with the Birmingham Stallions, and we couldn’t be more proud.
Long before the touchdowns and headlines, J’Mar was part of our team. Even then, his dedication, positivity, and steady work ethic stood out. He showed up ready, encouraged the people around him, and put in the work without needing the spotlight. Watching him step back onto the field and continue his professional football journey feels like seeing someone exactly where they’re meant to be.
National Donut Day: A Sweet Tradition with a Meaningful Legacy
National Donut Day is always one of the most fun days of the year in our stores. There’s an energy to it. Teams come in ready. Guests walk through the doors smiling. Sprinkles seem to sparkle a little more than usual.
All day long, we had the joy of serving free donuts, connecting with our guests, and celebrating a tradition that feels both lighthearted and meaningful.
But National Donut Day isn’t just about frosting and fun. The holiday was originally created to honor the “Donut Lassies,” volunteers who served donuts to soldiers during World War I. It began as a small act of comfort and encouragement during an incredibly difficult time. At its heart, the day has always been about service and simple kindness.
This year, we were proud to carry that legacy forward by donating dozens of donuts to The Salvation Army in Knoxville. It was a small gesture, but one rooted in the same spirit that started this tradition more than a century ago.
Good Citizen Month: Serving Across Six Regions, One Meal at a Time
We’ve officially wrapped up our Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation Good Citizen Month volunteer events across all Bluemont markets, and what a month it’s been.
Over the past several weeks, our teams showed up in six regions with one shared goal: serve our communities in a tangible way.
In Chattanooga, our team volunteered at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, labeling canned goods and packing monthly meal boxes for families in need. In just one day, they helped process more than 8,500 pounds of food—providing over 7,000 meals to neighbors in our community.
We closed out the month in Greenville, SC, partnering with Harvest Hope Food Bank. There, our team packed approximately 3,600 pounds of fresh produce, including carrots and grapefruits, helping support an organization that serves 250 to 300 families daily. It was a strong finish to a month defined by teamwork and purpose.
While the numbers are meaningful, what stands out most is the collective effort. Team Members across six regions gave their time, energy, and heart to something bigger than themselves. They stepped away from the day-to-day, rolled up their sleeves, and served side by side.
The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation’s mission to bring joy and fight hunger isn’t just something we support financially. It’s something we live out locally. Good Citizen Month is a reminder that impact happens when people show up consistently.
A Bananas Saturday in Raytown
Last Saturday was, in every sense of the word, bananas.
We had the absolute joy of welcoming players from the Savannah Bananas to our Raytown, MO Dunkin’ between their Kansas City games, and the energy was unmatched from the moment they walked in.
Guests lined up for autographs and selfies. Swag was flying. Cameras were out. At one point, players hopped behind the counter to box donuts and surprise drive-thru guests, which is not something you see every day. There’s something unforgettable about ordering your coffee and realizing your donut was handed to you by a Banana.
We also debuted custom Savannah Bananas donuts for the occasion, because if you’re going to host the most entertaining team in baseball, you might as well lean all the way in.
One of the most meaningful moments of the day was surprising our friends from Children’s Mercy with tickets to the game. Being able to connect the excitement of the Bananas with kids and families who deserve a little extra joy made the day even more special.
Huge thanks to the entire Bananas and Firefighters crew for bringing so much energy, laughter, and heart into our store. It was loud, it was joyful, it was slightly chaotic in the best possible way.
