Why We Celebrate National Donut Day
Why We Celebrate Donut Day
From today’s perspective, it may seem odd that The Salvation Army celebrates donuts—but these sweet treats are deeply rooted in our history, going back more than 100 years.
While The Salvation Army didn’t invent the donut, it played a major role in popularizing it. During World War I, female Salvation Army volunteers—known as Donut Lassies—served donuts to American soldiers on the front lines. Their efforts not only lifted morale but also helped establish National Donut Day.
According to the Smithsonian’s Lorraine Boissoneault, these brave women volunteered to support the American Expeditionary Force overseas, equipped not just with gas masks and helmets—but also rolling pins, flour, and sugar. In September 1917, four volunteers arrived near the trenches in eastern France to provide familiar comforts like music, hot cocoa, and fudge. Then, two of them—Margaret Sheldon and Helen Purviance—had an idea: make donuts to remind soldiers of home.
Using army rations, wine bottles as rolling pins, and a soldier’s helmet filled with lard, they fried the first donuts. Later, they created a donut cutter using a milk can and camphor ice tube. These simple, fried treats—made with flour, sugar, eggs, baking powder, and milk—became an instant hit.
Though only 250 Salvation Army volunteers served on the front lines, their presence and the comfort they brought had an outsized impact. Women like Stella Young, who nearly missed being hit by shrapnel while frying donuts near the Metz Front, became iconic symbols of support. She remembered the harsh conditions, the damp and cold, and the young soldiers—many just 16 or 17—facing unimaginable hardship.
Service by women in religious and charitable organizations, including the YWCA, Jewish Welfare Board, Knights of Columbus, and Quakers, played a critical role in the war effort. For many women, it was the first time they took on responsibilities traditionally reserved for men, proving their strength and professionalism. These contributions helped advance the women’s suffrage movement and redefined women’s roles in society.
Want to try a Donut Lassie recipe?
Here’s how to make a batch of these historic donuts:
Ingredients:
- 5 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 5 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 ¾ cups milk
- 1 tub of lard (for frying)
Directions:
- Mix all ingredients (except lard) to make dough.
- Knead thoroughly, roll out, and cut into rings less than 1/4 inch thick. (Use whatever you have on hand to cut the donut shapes—just like the Donut Lassies did.)
- Drop rings into hot lard and fry, turning until evenly browned.
- Drain, dust with powdered sugar, and let cool.
Makes about four dozen donuts.