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National Doughnut Day Image

National Doughnut Day

Doughnut Lassies

The Salvation Army celebrates Doughnut Day annually in June to honor the efforts of the Doughnut Lassies during World War I.

In the midst of WWI, Evangeline Booth sent 250 Salvation Army volunteers overseas to support the US soldiers fighting in France. There, they set up small huts located near the front lines to give soldiers clothes, supplies and baked goods.

After discovering that serving baked goods would be difficult considering the conditions of the huts and the limited rations, two volunteers – Ensign Margaret Sheldon and Adjutant Helen Purviance – began frying doughnuts in soldiers’ helmets. These tasty treats boosted morale and won the hearts of the soldiers.

In addition to serving fresh-fried pastries, Doughnut Lassies provided spiritual aid and comfort. They were a link home to family and friends. They provided writing supplies, stamps, clothes-mending, and home-cooked food for soldiers.

The Doughnut Lassies are often credited with popularizing the doughnut in the United States when the troops, "Doughboys," returned home from war.

Today, around 10 billion doughnuts are made in the US each year.

The Salvation Army celebrated the first National Doughnut Day in 1938 in the city of Chicago as a way to honor Salvation Army Doughnut Lassies from World War I.

The day was created as a way to raise funds and bring awareness to the Army’s social service programs during the Great Depression.

The Salvation Army still serves doughnuts, in addition to warm meals and hydration, to those in need during times of disaster.

National Doughnut Day occurs on the first Friday of June.

"They went where they were needed, They did what they could, They gave what they had, and of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

- John Barton Payne