Volunteers hand out free doughnuts to firefighters during a previous year’s National Doughnut Day. From left are Hope Browning, Jacqlyn Shelton, Sandra Atkinson and Cindy Hindmon.Tasty Daylight Donuts, Entenmann’s Bakery and local Krispy Kremes are partnering with The Salvation Army for National Doughnut Day, which this year is being celebrated Friday, June 3.
In 1938, President Dwight Eisenhower proclaimed the first Friday in June National Doughnut Day to pay tribute to “Doughnut Lassies,” female Salvation Army volunteers who provided writing supplies, clothes-mending, home-cooked meals and, of course, doughnuts for soldiers on the front lines in World War I.
“Salvation Army had volunteers serving on the front line trying to give armed forces rest and relaxation on the battlefield, and they would make them fresh dough treats,” said Salvation Army of Greater Chattanooga Director of Marketing and Development Kimberly George, adding that these Doughnut Lassies would cook the treats in the soldiers’ helmets.
In keeping with Doughnut Day tradition, on June 3, teams of Salvation Army volunteers will deliver doughnuts donated by Tasty Daylight Donuts to hometown heroes such as local fire, police and city officials as well as armed forces units.
“The local Salvation Army still wants to honor those selflessly serving day in and day out,” George said. “It’s our way of saying ‘thank you.'”
Tasty Daylight Donuts will also give away a free doughnut to anyone who comes in that day, as will the local Krispy Kreme, which will also be collecting donations for The Salvation Army that day, said George.
This is the sixth consecutive year Entenmann’s is joining The Salvation Army to recognize the day with co-branded Entenmann’s Bakery doughnut boxes available at grocery stores from which The Salvation Army will receive a portion of the proceeds. Entenmann’s will also donate $1 to The Salvation Army for each “Win Free Donuts for a Year” Facebook Sweepstakes entry received during the campaign, up to $35,000.
“Hopefully it will be an educational time for the community about The Salvation Army, which has been serving for 123 years in Chattanooga,” George said. “The only way we’re able to continue to serve is through the community’s support.”
To learn more about The Salvation Army Greater Chattanooga or to make a donation, visit csarmy.org.
Krispy Kreme is at 5608 Brainerd Road and Tasty Daylight Donuts at 1414 Jenkins Road.