Alabama woman gives birth at Krispy Kreme during snowstorm, gets a year of free doughnuts

An Alabama couple received a sweet surprise in the parking lot of a Krispy Kreme, but not in the form of a dozen free doughnuts.

On Wednesday, Sha’Nya Bennett began experiencing contractions while at her Dothan home during the second day of a historic winter storm event.

As the contractions intensified, Bennett, her partner, Keon Mitchell, and their 4-year-old son began heading to Flowers Hospital.

However, due to the roads being iced over from the weather, it was taking too long for the family to reach their destination.

Keon told AL.com that about a mile from the hospital Bennett began screaming to call 911 and that she could feel the baby’s head.

Keon turned into a closed Krispy Kreme parking lot and, moments later, Dallas Bennett made his grand entrance into the world.

“We were holding onto [Dallas’s] head and we turned into the Krispy Kreme parking lot then he came out,” Keon said.

“And when he came out she just told me to grab him and I grabbed him until the paramedics got there.”

Keon said that everything happened so fast and the paramedics arrived within 3 minutes of his son’s birth.

Keon said he nearly passed out during the incident but is glad he was able to hold on during the ordeal.

The family left the hospital Friday and Sha’Nya is back home recovering with their newborn.

Keon said their mothers even suggested making Dallas’s middle name Glaze.

“We’ll have to talk about that,” Keon said.

The shop was closed at the time of Dallas’s birth, but manager Laura French said the moment was the biggest surprise she’s experienced while working at the location, calling it the “icing on the doughnut.”

French said she is a third generation worker of the franchise with her family ties dating back to the 1950s through her grandfather.

“My first thought was, we have seen it all,” French said. “I’m telling you, everything happens in the Krispy Kreme parking lot on a scale from small to grand. I was like well that’s just the icing on the doughnut right there.”

French said that her general manager reached out to Bennett and offered the couple free doughnuts for a year and to host Dallas’ first birthday party at Krispy Kreme.

French also said the location was considering a special doughnut in honor of Dallas’s birth.

Keon said the gestures by Krispy Kreme were amazing and the family was so “appreciative” of their support.