National Donut Day

Today is National Doughnut Day. Every year on the first Friday in June the United States recognizes the Doughnut Day event created by The Salvation Army in 1938 to honor their members who served just doughnuts to soldiers during World War I.

The holiday celebrates the doughnut (a.k.a. “donut”) – a tasty piece of dough which is deep-fried and sweetened. Many American doughnut stores offer free doughnuts on National Doughnut Day.

National Doughnut was a fundraiser for Chicago’s The Salvation Army. Their goal was to help those in need during the Great Depression, and to honor The Salvation Army “Lassies” of World War I, who served doughnuts to soldiers.

About 250 Salvation Army volunteers went to France. Because of the difficulties of providing freshly baked goods from huts established in abandoned buildings near to the front lines, the two Salvation Army volunteers came up with the idea of providing doughnuts.