USA Celebrates Salvation Army Service on National Donut Day

ALMOST a century of sweet-toothed service was recognised by The Salvation Army in the USA during June with the celebration of National Donut Day. Major donut stores including Krispy Kreme and Dunkin' Donuts joined in the fun by handing out free donuts on 3 June.

According to Salvation Army history, the provision of donuts (or doughnuts) dates back to 1917, when around 250 volunteer Salvationists provided assistance to American troops fighting on the frontlines in France during the First World War.

As the young soldiers faced physical and emotional peril amidst the fighting, Salvation Army officers Ensign Margaret Sheldon and Adjutant Helen Purviance had the idea to comfort them with good home cooking, using their limited ingredients to fry up – in helmets! – delicious doughnuts.

These women, earning the nicknames 'Doughnut Lassies' and 'Doughnut Girls', served countless treats to grateful soldiers, moving through the trenches to bring the men doughnuts and coffee. More than just filling an empty stomach, these doughnuts and the joyful presence of the women who worked so hard to make them provided the soldiers with the boost their spirits needed during an extraordinarily difficult time.

The Salvation Army celebrated the first National Doughnut Day in 1938 in the city of Chicago to honour Salvation Army 'Doughnut Lassies'. The celebrations were also used to raise funds and bring awareness of the Army’s social service programmes during the Great Depression.

In 2011 National Donut Day reminded people across the USA of the ministry provided by The Salvation Army through the years as well as raising awareness of the services given every year to 30 million Americans.

For more information, visit our International Heritage Centre website