It just came to my attention that Friday, June 6, was National Donut Day! Had I realized, I certainly would have sought out a free donut to celebrate. But celebrate what?! Why is there a National Donut Day?!
As it turns out, there is an important origin to this unofficial holiday. In 1917, during the start of World War I, the Salvation Army went to France on a mission to find what enlisted men might need to help bring a bit of home to them. As a result, “huts” where there were writing supplies, stamps, clothes mending, and baked goods set up near Army training centers.
Because of difficulty providing freshly baked goods in the abandoned buildings where the huts were set up, two Salvation Army volunteers came up with the idea of serving donuts. Servicemen soon referred to the women at these huts as “Donut Girls”. During World War II, Red Cross volunteers also served donuts and became known as “Donut Dollies”.
In 1938, during the Great Depression, the first National Donut Day was celebrated in Chicago as a fundraising event for the Salvation Army to help those in need. This is observed every year on the first Friday of June, so put it on/in your calendar and next year, remember the work done supporting our troops by the Salvation Army and Red Cross as your enjoy a sweet treat.