Rhode Island Salvation Army holds 1st Annual Donut Day Fundraiser

Recently, The Salvation Army held its first annual Donut Day Too event at the Rhode Island Shriner’s Imperial Room in Cranston.

The event was free and included a donut eating competition, as well as a donut tasting contest. Those in attendance were able to sample donut holes from various Rhode Island donut shops and bakeries and then vote on which is the best. The shop that received the most votes was Ma's Donuts and More located in Middletown. Ma's donuts beat out local favorites Knead Doughnuts of East Greenwich and Westerly, Honey Dew Donuts of Cranston, Dunkin' Donuts of Lincoln and Allie's Donuts of North Kingstown.

Taking part in the donut eating competition were members of the police department, fire department, Pawtucket and Central Falls Emergency Management Services, Navigant Credit Union, and Coastal One Credit Union. The team that walked away victorious was Coastal One Credit Union, which won in a photo finish against the fire department.

The event’s Presenting Sponsor was United Healthcare. Navigant Credit Union was the Top Chef Sponsor. The remaining Friends of the Army Sponsors were Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA), Fleet Master, and Carpenter-Jenks Family Funeral Homes.

The Salvation Army established National Donut Day in 1938 to honor The Salvation Army’s “Donut Lassies,” who made history when they risked their lives to raise spirits and fuel hope by serving thousands of soldiers during WWI, in part by delivering donuts and other sweet treats to those in the war.

In 1917, Salvation Army volunteers traveled to France and set up makeshift huts on the front lines, where they provided essential goods and sweet treats to boost morale. The donut was then, and continues to be, a taste of home and a symbol of comfort for Americans.