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THE SALVATION ARMY CELEBRATES NATIONAL DOUGHNUT DAY

Local Salvation Army Events Scheduled in Cities Nationwide

(Alexandria, VA) June 4, 2010 – The Salvation Army is celebrating the 72nd annual National Doughnut Day today, with a variety of events including free doughnut giveaways nationwide.  The Salvation Army is widely credited with popularizing the doughnut in the United States by feeding American soldiers the tasty confection during World War I. 

National Doughnut Day was first celebrated in Chicago in 1938 to help the needy during the Great Depression and commemorate the work of the “doughnut lassies” who served soldiers during the War. Today, the first Friday in June each year marks an important date in American food history and raises awareness for the critical services that The Salvation Army provides to those in need each day.

“The Salvation Army serves nearly 70 million meals to those in need each year so there’s no better way to highlight our work than by celebrating a great American food,” said Major George Hood, National Community Relations and Development Secretary for The Salvation Army. “So, while everyone enjoys a doughnut today, we hope they’ll also think about giving back to those less fortunate.”

National Doughnut Day will be celebrated by The Salvation Army in partnership with doughnut vendors and shops nationwide. Examples of local Salvation Army events and partnerships include:

• Chicago, IL: Donors can help The Salvation Army "Take a Bite Out of Hunger" on June 4th and 5th, 2010. Fundraisers will be on the streets handing out commemorative Doughnut Day tags to donors to help support feeding programs for children, seniors, the homeless and families in need. Local celebrities will be participating in events and providing entertainment at the James R. Thompson Center on June 4th from 11 AM – 1PM.

• Cincinnati, OH: The Salvation Army in Greater Cincinnati will host games and other activities, in addition to providing free doughnuts and drinks on June 4. The event is in partnership with the Greater Cincinnati Retail Bakers Association and Bakemark, an international supplier of baking supplies to independent doughnut shops,

• Los Angeles, CA: BakeMark will make a $10,000 donation to renovate The Salvation Army’s Haven Shelter in West Los Angeles.  The Salvation Army will also be providing free doughnuts and coffee to veterans and their families from across Southern California from 7:00 to 8:30 AM on June 4.

• Vero Beach, FL: The Salvation Army will be handing out free doughnuts from a mobile canteen at the new Dough Boy’s Donuts and Bagels in Vero Beach from 5:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

In order to raise needed funds during the Great Depression The Salvation Army began honoring 250 World War I volunteers and lassies, on the first “National Doughnut Day” in 1938. Among those honored were Ensign Margaret Sheldon and Adjutant Helen Purviance who came up with the idea of frying doughnuts in soldiers’ helmets near the front lines as a quick treat. The doughnuts became an instant hit that was brought back to America by returning “doughboys.”

“What hot dogs are for baseball, doughnuts are for The Salvation Army,” said Major Hood. “Doughnuts have become synonymous with Salvation Army services and that’s something we acknowledge with pride.”

In addition to clothing, shelter and financial assistance, The Salvation Army provides some 70 million meals, including doughnuts, to millions of Americans each year. Even during a disaster, such as a hurricane, earthquake or flood, the Army provides coffee and doughnuts to survivors and emergency responders who need support during a critical time. More information about National Doughnut Day and The Salvation Army’s service programs in more than 5,000 areas nationwide is available online at www.salvationarmyusa.org.

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865 in London, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.

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