CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — June 7 is America’s sweetest holiday — National Donut Day, a tradition started by The Salvation Army in 1938.
This day was originally a fundraiser to honor the history of Salvation Army Donut Lassies and to support those in need during the Great Depression. Today, the need for resources, love, and hope in Champaign County is greater than ever. The Salvation Army of Champaign County is teaming up with Industrial Donut in Savoy for “National Donut Day” week, beginning on June 3, 2024, to raise awareness and support for our community’s most vulnerable.
How You Can Get Involved
From June 3 to June 6, customers can purchase a one-half dozen Red Kettle Box of Industrial Donuts. On June 7, you can buy a box of one-half dozen donuts with red sprinkles. Each box costs $11.49, and 20% of the sales from these boxes will be donated to support programs offered by The Salvation Army of Champaign County. Orders can be placed online at industrialdonut.com for pick-up from June 3 to June 7.
The History Behind National Donut Day
According to the Salvation Army’s press release, National Donut Day was inspired by The Salvation Army’s brave volunteers who traveled to France in 1917 during World War I. These volunteers, known as “Donut Lassies,” provided critical supplies and meaningful spiritual and emotional support to soldiers on the front lines. The donuts they fried and served not only tasted great but also boosted morale and offered a sense of comfort to homesick soldiers.
The Salvation Army’s Impact in Champaign County
Over 80 years later, The Salvation Army continues to provide essential services and programs to vulnerable communities in nearly every ZIP code. In Champaign County alone, The Salvation Army helps 75,000 people each year by providing veterans’ services, food, emergency housing and rental assistance, Christmas gifts for children, and support for survivors and first responders with emergency disaster services.
Captains Melissa and Kenyon Siviels, corps officers at The Salvation Army of Champaign County, said in a press release, “National Donut Day is a special holiday for us and serves as a reminder of the brave work we do every day for the good of our neighbors. We are proud to be a part of the nation’s largest nongovernmental provider of social services and help the Champaign County community. The generosity of Industrial Donut and customers who purchase donuts in support of The Salvation Army helps to continue making these services available to those who need help today.”
Join the Celebration
Becca Powers, owner of Industrial Donut, added in a press release, “National Donut Day truly is the sweetest holiday of the year. This year, we are proud to work with The Champaign Salvation Army, not only to commemorate this special historical day that The Salvation Army created in 1938 during The Great Depression, but to continue in their efforts to support those who most need support in our own community. Purchase a Red Kettle Box, and you can be a modern-day ‘Donut Lassie,’ providing support to those in need, too!”
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army helped nearly 24 million people in 2022 overcome poverty, addiction, and spiritual and economic hardships by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and meeting human needs in His name without discrimination in nearly every ZIP code. By providing food, shelter, eviction prevention assistance, emergency disaster relief, rehabilitation, after-school and summer youth programs, spiritual enrichment, and more, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at nearly 7,000 centers of operation around the country.
About Industrial Donut
Industrial Donut is a family-owned and operated donut and coffee shop in Savoy, IL. The family team consists of James, Becca, and SydneyPowers, all born and bred in Central IL.
For more information about National Donut Day or to download the Donut Lassies’ original donut recipe, click here.