CLARKSVILLE, TN – National Donut Day is celebrated each year on the first Friday of June, but people may be surprised to learn that donuts do more than simply taste good. They can actually do good, too.
The Salvation Army established National Donut Day in 1938 to honor The Salvation Army’s “Donut Lassies,” who made history when they risked their lives to raise spirits and fuel hope by serving thousands of soldiers during World War I, in part by delivering donuts and other sweet treats to those in the war.
In 1917, Salvation Army volunteers traveled to France and set up makeshift huts on the front lines, where they provided essential goods and sweet treats to boost morale. The donut was then, and continues to be, a taste of home and a symbol of comfort for Americans.
More than 100 years later, The Salvation Army is still serving on the front lines, now through a wide range of social services for America’s most vulnerable individuals and families.
“This National Donut Day, as the country celebrates with a sweet treat, we are proud to remember that this tradition started with our very own volunteers more than a hundred years ago,” said Lt. Andrew Lewis. “For us, the donut is a symbol of hope that The Salvation Army provides to those in need.”
In celebration of this year’s National Donut Day on Friday, June 3, The Salvation Army is celebrating across the country, including in Clarksville. Lewis will be distributing donuts to clients, Family Store customers, and shelter residents.
For more information about National Donut Day or to download the Donut Lassies’ original recipe, visit //salarmy.us/DonutDay.