How The Salvation Army is connected to National Doughnut Day
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The first Friday in June is America’s sweetest holiday – National Doughnut Day.
Celebrated on June 7 this year, The Salvation Army is, in fact, the inspiration behind its founding and why it is celebrated.
According to a release by the Salvation Army, in 1917, The Salvation Army’s brave volunteers traveled to France during World War I to bring critical supplies and provide meaningful spiritual and emotional support to the soldiers who were risking their lives on the front lines. The volunteers were nicknamed “Donut Lassies” for the doughnuts they fried and served to thousands.
Not only were the sweet treats delicious but they also boosted morale and offered a sense of comfort to homesick soldiers.
In 1938, The Salvation Army celebrated the first National Doughnut Day in Chicago as a fundraiser to help those in need during the Great Depression and to commemorate the work of the Donut Lassies, who brought much-needed hope in a time of darkness.
Now, over 80 years later, The Salvation Army continues to bring essential services and programs to vulnerable communities in nearly every ZIP code. In Bowling Green, The Salvation Army says it helps over 4,600 people annually through their emergency shelter, food assistance, Christmas assistance and more.
“National Doughnut Day is a special holiday for us and serves as a reminder of the brave work we do every day for the good of our neighbors,” said captain Johnny Horton, Corps Officer in Bowling Green. “We are proud to be a part of the nation’s largest nongovernmental provider of social services and help the Bowling Green community.”
The Salvation Army of Bowling Green plans to celebrate Doughnut Day on Friday by distributing doughnuts to first responders, local nonprofit partners and some volunteer groups that help The Salvation Army throughout the year.
For more information and to download the Donut Lassies’ original recipe, click here. To learn more about the Salvation Army, click here.
