In 1938, the first-ever National Donut Day was celebrated in Chicago, and the history of The Salvation Army’s Donut Lassies was officially immortalized. In 1917, these women were sent to France to establish field bases near the front lines. In makeshift huts, thousands of soldiers would come to stock up on essential goods and grab a sweet treat baked by the Lassies. And while supplies for baking were difficult to obtain, two Salvation Army volunteers, Ensign Margaret Sheldon and Adjutant Helen Purviance improvised by frying donuts in soldiers’ helmets.

Both the presence of these courageous women, and the donuts that tasted of home, brought a light of hope and happiness to the battlefield – a much-needed morale boost for languishing soldiers. In fact, the Donut Lassies are also credited with popularizing the donut in the United States after the troops (commonly known as “doughboys”) came back from fighting in Europe. And still today, over a hundred years later, The Salvation Army continues to serve on the front lines, through a wide range of social services for the most vulnerable Americans.

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