In 1917, The Salvation Army embarked on a mission to provide spiritual and emotional support for U.S. soldiers fighting in France during World War I. At the personal request of General John S. Pershing, about 250 volunteers traveled overseas and set up small huts near the front lines where they provided soldiers with clothes, supplies, and of course, sweet treats.
To celebrate and commemorate the women of the Salvation Army who went to war with nothing more than a bucket of hot grease and a handful of donut dough, providing soldiers with a smile and a treat, the Columbia Historical Museum will be recognizing National Donut Day on Friday, June 7, 2024. This event will run during regular museum hours, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Friday and is free and open to the public.
Up to 9,000 donuts were served to the American troops daily during World War I. These Salvation Army volunteers were nicknamed “Donut Lassies” for the taste of home they delivered directly to the front lines, offering a moment of comfort to homesick soldiers.
Despite discovering that serving baked goods would be difficult considering the conditions of the huts and the limited rations, two officers — Ensign Margaret Sheldon and Adjutant Helen Purviance — began frying donuts for the soldiers. These tasty treats boosted morale and won the hearts of many American soldiers during World War i.
Throughout the 1920s, and into the 1930s, when the Great Depression upended countless lives, The Salvation Army continued to sell and donate donuts. When World War II began, volunteers from The Salvation Army once again provided sweet treats to those serving on the front lines, but were now assisted by a new invention — the automatic donut-making machine.
In 1938, The Salvation Army established the first National Donut Day in Chicago as a fundraiser to help those in need during the Great Depression and to commemorate the work of the Donut Lassies, who brought much-needed faith in a time of darkness. The donut still serves as a symbol and reminder of the comfort The Salvation Army Donut Lassies provided to soldiers during World War I and World War II through many social service programs still active today.
National Donut Day is held annually on the first Friday in June.
The Columbia Historical Museum, located at 247 East Brazos Avenue in downtown West Columbia, invites everybody to stop by for a free donut and a cup of coffee on Friday, June 7, 2024, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to help your local museum celebrate National Donut Day.
