The Salvation Army Celebrates National Donut Day with Free Donuts for Veterans

The Salvation Army kicked off National Donut Day with a tasty treat at three area VA hospitals in the Montgomery area.

Over 100 dozen donuts were available for veterans and staffers at the Perry Hill, Tuskegee, and Chantilly locations.

Celebrated on the first Friday in June, National Donut Day traces back to World War I. During the war, nearly 250 Salvation Army volunteers known as “Donut Lassies” traveled overseas to provide emotional and spiritual support as well as fried confections, supplies, and other services to troops on the front lines.

The Salvation Army gave out donuts and water at area VA hospitals Friday morning/Source: Alabama News Network

According to the Salvation Army, the Donut Lassies fried donuts in small pans and are credited with popularizing the donut in the United States when troops returned home from war.

“This National Donut Day, as our veterans celebrate with a sweet treat, we are proud to remember that this fun tradition started with our very own volunteers over a hundred years ago,” said Lt. Bryan Farrington, Montgomery Corps Officer. “If you ask me, knowing that the day has its roots in the fight for good makes those glazed pastries taste even sweeter.”

The Salvation Army gave out donuts and water at area VA hospitals Friday morning/Source: Alabama News Network

The first National Donut Day celebrated in the United States was in Chicago in 1938 to help those in need during the Great Depression and to commemorate the work of the Donut Lassies.

In addition to giving out donuts, The Salvation Army staff and volunteers also gave out bottled water to the veterans and staffers at the VA hospitals.