National Donut Day

National Donut Day, observed on the first Friday of June, celebrates the fried, sweet pastry and honors the Salvation Army volunteers known as "Donut Lassies" who served donuts to American soldiers during World War I. The holiday was established in 1938 by the Chicago Salvation Army as a fundraiser during the Great Depression, specifically to honor women volunteers who had traveled to the front lines in France decades earlier, frying donuts in makeshift kitchens, often using soldiers' helmets as mixing bowls, to boost troop morale amid the hardships of trench warfare. The donuts became such a beloved comfort that returning soldiers, nicknamed "doughboys" partly for this association, spread affection for the treat throughout the country, cementing the donut's place in American food culture. The Salvation Army continues to use the observance to raise funds and awareness for its charitable programs, while donut shops and chains nationwide have adopted the day as a major promotional occasion, commonly offering free or discounted donuts to customers. The holiday's timing remains fixed to the first Friday of June in official Salvation Army tradition, tracing directly back to its founding purpose of honoring wartime volunteer service.