The Salvation Army Celebrates National Donut Day by Honoring Local First Responders
Region’s largest social service provider commemorates the sweetest holiday of the year
National Donut Day is celebrated annually on the first Friday of June, and this year, The Salvation Army of North Texas is honoring the rich history of the holiday by delivering donuts to local first responders to thank them for their selfless service.
In remembrance of why Donut Day was founded nearly 85 years ago, The Salvation Army is joining forces with elected officials across North Texas to show appreciation for the men and women who risk their lives every day to keep us safe.
The Salvation Army established the first National Donut Day in 1938 to honor its “Donut Lassies,” who made history when they risked their lives to raise spirits and fuel hope by serving thousands of soldiers during World War I, in part by delivering warm, fresh donuts to those in the war.
This year, The Salvation Army of North Texas is recognizing the holiday across the region:
In Collin County, Mayor John B. Muns of Plano is visiting The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club to hand out donuts to the Plano Police and Fire Academy. The Salvation Army staff will additionally be delivering donuts to first responders in the area and the Allen Police Department following the devastating shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets.
In Ellis County, Mayor David Hill of Waxahachie and city council members are teaming up with the Waxahachie Corps Community Center to deliver donuts to members of the Waxahachie Police Department.
In Dallas County, The Salvation Army Oak Cliff Corps Community Center will be distributing donuts to the local fire station and police department.
In Tarrant County, The Salvation Army Arlington Corps Community Center will be delivering donuts to the Dalworthington Gardens City Hall and the Pantego City Hall.
“Thanks to the ongoing support of our partners and North Texas elected officials, we are able to celebrate this holiday that started with our own volunteers more than a hundred years ago,” said Major Paul McFarland, area commander of The Salvation Army of North Texas. “To us, the donut is more than just tasty — it’s a symbol of hope that The Salvation Army provides to all those combatting poverty, addiction, and homelessness year-round.”
In 1917, Salvation Army volunteers traveled to France and set up makeshift huts on the front lines, where they provided essential goods and sweet treats to homesick soldiers to boost morale.
The courageous women known as “Donut Lassies” are often credited with popularizing the donut in the United States when the troops, nicknamed “Doughboys,” returned home from war. The donut was then, and continues to be, a taste of home and a symbol of comfort for Americans.
Today, The Salvation Army is still serving, now through a wide range of social services for America’s most vulnerable individuals and families.
In North Texas, thousands are facing greater hardship than ever before with the impacts of inflation, rising costs, and lingering effects of the pandemic. The Salvation Army has expanded its resources in response to the circumstances thousands are facing to continue enabling God-empowered transformations for North Texas’ most vulnerable individuals and families.
The Salvation Army of North Texas’ six shelters and senior living centers are currently housing 1,300 people per week, 12 food pantries are feeding 10,000 people per week, and three recovery programs are treating 500 people per week.
For more information about National Donut Day or to download the Donut Lassies’ original recipe, visit SalvationArmyNTX.org/north-texas/donut-day.
About The Salvation Army of North Texas
The Salvation Army of North Texas provides a range of services to combat poverty, addiction, and homelessness at 21 centers of operation in Dallas, Rockwall, Tarrant and Ellis, and Denton and Collin counties. Faithful to our mission, The Salvation Army enables God-empowered transformations of individuals and society through food assistance, shelter, rehabilitation, counseling, spiritual support, mentoring and job placement, and more. For more information, visit SalvationArmyNorthTexas.org.
Media Contact
Alex Edwards, [email protected], 281-248-3829