The Salvation Army Honors a Sweet Legacy on National Donut Day
The Salvation Army Honors a Sweet Legacy on National Donut Day
[Mississippi Gulf Coast] — On Friday, June 6, 2025, The Salvation Army will celebrate National Donut Day, along with generous sponsors from Gulf Coast Community Federal Credit Union and Mississippi TrueCare will be serving donuts at the Armed Forces Retirement Home from 8 am – 10 am on Friday, June 6th. Following the Armed Forces Retirement Home visit, volunteers will deliver donuts to first responders along the coast until the sweet treats are gone.
“The donut became a symbol of care during one of the most difficult times in history,” said Major Jerry Friday, 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, equipping 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.