National Donut Day Press Release
The Salvation Army Honors a Sweet Legacy on National Donut Day
[Mississippi Gulf Coast] — On Friday, June 5, 2026, The Salvation Army will celebrate National Donut Day, along with generous sponsors from Gulf Coast Community Federal Credit Union and TrueCare will be serving donuts at the Armed Forces Retirement Home from 8 am – 10 am on Friday, June 5th. Following the Armed Forces Retirement Home visit, volunteers will deliver donuts to first responders along the coast until the sweet treats are gone.
“We’re proud to support this event each year and honor our veterans and frontline healthcare workers. These individuals often serve as the first connection to building trusted, positive healthcare relationships in our communities,” says Ashley Thomposon, CEO of TrueCare.
“The donut became a symbol of care during one of the most difficult times in history,” said Major Paul Egan, Area Commander of The Salvation Army Mississippi Gulf Coast. “And now, more than 100 years later, The Salvation Army continues that mission by bringing comfort, hope, and practical help to people in need every day.”
National Donut Day is a time-honored tradition that began on the front lines of World War I and continues today through the organization’s ongoing mission of service and support. National Donut Day was first established in 1938 by The Salvation Army in Chicago to pay tribute to the “Donut Lassies,” a group of women who served soldiers during World War I by providing them with homemade donuts, coffee, and a touch of home amid the horrors of war. These brave volunteers used makeshift tools—sometimes even frying donuts in soldiers’ helmets—to deliver comfort and compassion to those fighting overseas.
Today, National Donut Day is more than a celebration of sweets—it’s a celebration of service.
Ways the Community Can Celebrate:
- Enjoy a donut from a local bakery or partner and reflect on the powerful history behind it.
- Share a photo on social media with #DonutDay to help raise awareness.
- Donate to support The Salvation Army’s programs on the Mississippi Gulf Coast including food assistance, equip families, and disaster relief.
- Volunteer and follow in the footsteps of the Donut Lassies by giving back locally.
From providing food assistance and First Steps Transitional Housing to families, and disaster response, The Salvation Army continues to serve on the front lines of need—just as it did over a century ago. To learn more or to support The Salvation Army’s mission, visit salvationarmymsgulfcoast.org.
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The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army helped nearly 27.5 million people in 2024 overcome poverty, addiction, and spiritual and economic hardships by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and meeting human needs in His name without discrimination in nearly every zip code. By providing food, shelter, eviction prevention assistance, emergency disaster relief, rehabilitation, after-school and summer youth programs, spiritual enrichment, and more, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at nearly 6,400 operation centers nationwide. For more information, visit salvationarmyusa.org. Follow us on X @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood. For more information, visit Salvationarmyalm.org or SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood.