Coronavirus cancels Tax Day freebies, 7-Eleven Day; Fry Day is Monday

Kelly Tyko
USA TODAYPublished 6:54 PM EDT Jul 12, 2020The coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, has led major companies to cancel or postpone popular freebie and deal days. 7-Eleven’s Free Slurpee Day held annually on July 11, aka 7/11, has been canceled but members of the convenience store chain’s loyalty program can still get a free Slurpee drink in July.Chick-fil-A’s annual Cow Appreciation Day, where consumers get free food for dressing up like a cow for a day in July, has been postponed.Amazon Prime Day, annually held in July since 2015, also has been postponed but a new date has not been officially announced.Save better, spend better:  Money tips and advice delivered right to your inbox. Sign up hereAnd Tax Day 2020 was moved from April to July this year with a big deduction: No long list of free food and deals.July 15 is the new April 15 for those who still have not filed a tax return. The traditional April income tax deadline for 2019 tax returns was extended this year due to the upheaval created by COVID-19.But foodies, here’s a food day that is still going on: National Fry Day is Monday, July 13.Bed Bath & Beyond 20% coupon: What shoppers need to know about the popular discount amid upcoming store closings’Wearing a mask is not about fear’: Retailer group urges governors to require everyone to wear a mask7-Eleven still giving away free SlurpeesFree Slurpee Day, also known as 7-Eleven Day, is the chain’s annual birthday party and has been celebrated each July 11 since 2002. 7-Eleven estimates its stores gave out nearly 9 million Slurpee drinks July 11, 2019.This year the company canceled the big day but is still giving away free Slurpee drinks in a “safe and socially responsible way,” 7-Eleven says on its website.Members of the 7Rewards loyalty program can get a free medium Slurpee to redeem one time through July 31 at participating locations. 7-Eleven also plans to donate a million free meals to Feeding America, which is considered the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the country. There also will be deals throughout the month on the 7NOW delivery app.Sign up for 7Rewards or download the app at www.7-eleven.com/7rewards. Chick-fil-A’s Cow Appreciation Day postponedThere’s more time to prepare your cow costume. Chick-fil-A has not said it has canceled its largest customer appreciation event of the year but has postponed it.Cow Appreciation Day started in 2005 with the free food giveaway traditionally being held in July at restaurants across the nation. The 2009 event was July 9 and nearly 2 million people have participated in past years. “2020 has been a challenging year, and for the time being, we have decided to postpone the annual holiday in honor of our beloved bovines,” Chick-fil-A said in a statement to USA TODAY. When the day will be scheduled has not been announced.No Tax Day 2020 freebies?As many as 11.3 million people still had not received federal income tax refunds for 2019 taxes – down 10.8% from a year ago, based on data through June 19 from the IRS.Tax Day is usually a big day to collect free food offers and deals. Not so much in 2020.Here are three deals shared with USA TODAY that are available Wednesday, July 15:Farmer Boys: Get two breakfast burritos or two Double Big Cheese burgers for just $10.40 Wednesday.Olive Garden: The chain will offer $15 bottles of wine, available for “Carside Pickup” or in-restaurant at select locations. The selection includes Confetti Pink Moscato Blend, Roscato Rosso Dolce or Moscato Primo Amore. For more information and to view options, go to www.olivegarden.com.Yard House: The chain’s Wine Wednesday will take place July 15. For Wine Wednesdays, Yard House has half-off bottles of wine along with select $5 glasses at participating locations. During Happy Hour, select appetizers and all pizzas are half price and draft beer is $2 off. Learn more and see offers in your area at www.yardhouse.com.Know of another deal held Wednesday at 50 or more locations? Businesses can submit deals here.Not canceled: National Fry Day is MondayThe pandemic hasn’t canceled National Fry Day, which is held annually on July 13.The following discounts and offers available at participating locations Monday unless otherwise noted. Offers can vary and most times are offered while supplies last. To be on the safe side, always check with your closest location before heading out. Also, some will require you to have a restaurant’s app or be signed up for emails.The following discounts and offers available at participating locations Monday, July 13 unless otherwise noted. Offers can vary and most times are offered while supplies last. To be on the safe side, always check with your closest location before heading out.Beef ‘O’ Brady’s: Get a free basket of fries with a $10 purchase Monday.BurgerFi: Get half-price double cheeseburgers with an in-store purchase of a regular-sized French fries Monday. Then Tuesday through July 17, get free regular-sized fries with any purchase ordered on the BurgerFi app.Burger King: Find several offers including $1 large fries on the BK app. App specials are listed at www.bk.com/offers.Carl’s Jr.: Newsletter subscribers received an email with a coupon for free large fries with purchase of a Thickburger Monday. Sign up for future emails at www.carlsjr.com.Checkers: Get a small, medium or large order of fries for $1 Monday. You can also get free fries for joining the chain’s text messaging program. Text SNACK to 88001 to sign up or sign up online at www.checkers.com/flavorhood. Farmer Boys: Get fries for $1 with any purchase made after 2 p.m. Monday.Fatburger: Get a free order of Skinny or Fat Fries with any purchase of $20 or more made on Postmates Monday through July 19.Hardee’s: Newsletter subscribers received an email with a coupon for free large fries with purchase of a Thickburger Monday. Sign up for future emails at www.hardees.com.KFC: To celebrate National French Fry Day and the permanent addition of its new Secret Recipe Fries to the menu at all U.S. restaurants, the fast food chain is offering individual orders of fries for 30 cents with any purchase Monday, according to a news release.McDonald’s: Get a free medium fries Monday with the McDonald’s app. No purchase is necessary but there’s a limit of one offer per customer. Access the deal using the app’s “Mobile Order & Pay” feature or scan the deal code from the app at the restaurant, drive thru or kiosk.Rally’s: Get a small, medium or large order of fries for $1 Monday. Get free fries with any purchase when you join the Flavorhood program at www.rallys.com/flavorhood.Smashburger: Get a free side of signature Smash Fries with the purchase of any double burger Monday.Steak ‘n Shake: For a limited time, participating restaurants are giving away free small orders of fries. There’s a limit of one order of free fries per person, the Indianapolis-based restaurant’s website notes.Taco John’s: The chain is giving away free small orders of Potato Olés Monday. Redeem the offer in Taco John’s mobile app. Wendy’s: The fast food chain has various deals on its app and website. Download the app at www.wendys.com. White Castle: Get a free small French fries in-restaurant, online or via the White Castle app Monday or with this coupon. No purchase is necessary, according to the coupon.More deals: Locally owned businesses and regional chains also may have specials for National French Fry Day. One of the easiest ways to find out is to check restaurants’ social media channels.Contributing: Susan Tompor, Detroit Free PressFollow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko

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