The Sweet History of Donut Day
News: History
O, joy! Every June, National Donut Day rolls around, sprinkling some sweetness on the first Friday of the month. While many people might guess that the holiday's founders dreamed it up solely as an excuse to devour a delicious confection, this occasion has a wholesome origin. Donuts played a surprising role in United States history.
A Taste of Home
In 1917, when the U.S. entered World War I, many American troops were stationed in France along the front lines, where conditions were difficult and dangerous. Much of the soldiers' time was spent in trenches, narrow defensive ditches dug into the ground. The men were often damp, muddy, and homesick.
Not long after the first American troops landed in France, however, a small team of young women from the Salvation Army arrived and set up makeshift huts near the front lines. This "army" was actually a charitable organization. The volunteers' mission was to provide supplies to the soldiers and raise their spirits. In addition to distributing clothes and essentials, they gave out snacks.
The volunteers wanted the soldiers to enjoy a taste of home, but with limited equipment and rations, it wasn't easy to bake desserts. With just a few simple ingredients, however, dough could be made and fried in a pan—or maybe even in a spare helmet! Soon, the young women were cooking up astonishing quantities of donuts. In one letter, volunteer Helen Purviance wrote that she and two other women had made and served 2,500 donuts and 255 gallons (965 liters) of cocoa in a single day.
In subsequent months, the Salvation Army sent reinforcements. In all, about 250 female volunteers were part of the effort. Thousands of soldiers flocked to the huts. They often mentioned the donuts in letters written to family and friends back home. Reporters picked up the story. The benevolent young women gained renown, earning the nickname "Donut Lassies." Today, historians credit them with boosting the morale of countless soldiers who endured trench warfare.
Donuts Get Their Day
After the war, the soldiers and Salvation Army volunteers returned to the U.S. Previously, donuts weren't unknown in the country, but their popularity soared in the postwar years, largely because soldiers brought home an abiding affection for them. For Americans who associated them with the war, donuts—whether they were glazed, frosted, or dusted with sugar—retained a flavor of patriotism.
In 1938, the Salvation Army in Chicago held the first Donut Day, an event to commemorate the contributions of the Donut Lassies. Once again, the organization deployed the treats to advance a good cause—Donut Day was a fundraiser to earn money for its charitable work, which was especially crucial in that era. During the financial hardships of the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Salvation Army provided food and shelter to many people.
Donut Day Rolls On
The event in Chicago was a big success, and people were soon celebrating National Donut Day from coast to coast and beyond. Now, cities across the nation mark the occasion with events that serve up a little sweetness to those who have served their country or community. Donuts are delivered to hospitals for veterans in Spokane, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Cincinnati, while first responders receive donated donuts in Dallas and in locations in Puerto Rico. Meanwhile, San Diego keeps the tradition afloat with an event aboard the U.S.S. Midway, a decommissioned military ship that is now a museum.
On the first Friday of June, donut fans can do some good while enjoying some goodies, as many shops give free donuts to customers who make donations to the Salvation Army. It's a sweet way to salute the women who inspired this holiday—the resourceful, dynamic Donut Lassies.
Think about and discuss these questions:
How do you think people's ideas about donuts have changed since 1917? Explain.
If you could have interviewed a Donut Lassie, what would you have asked her?
QUESTION 2
2 / 8
According to the article, which of these happened second?
The United States sent soldiers to France to fight in World War I.
The first Donut Day celebration and fundraiser was held in Chicago.
The Salvation Army sent a group of young women to the front lines.
The Donut Lassies cooked and served massive quantities of donuts.
7 answers
2 / 8
According to the article, which of these happened second?
A. The United States sent soldiers to France to fight in World War I.
B. The first Donut Day celebration and fundraiser was held in Chicago.
C. The Salvation Army sent a group of young women to the front lines.
D. The Donut Lassies cooked and served massive quantities of donuts.
3 / 8
According to the article, why were donuts the preferred snack along the front lines during World War I?
They were a treat that had already become wildly popular back home.
The soldiers thought they tasted better than other kinds of baked goods.
They could be made with the available equipment and ingredients.
The soldiers could easily make them on their own in a spare helmet.
4 / 8
Read the following passage from the article:
In 1917, when the U.S. entered World War I, many American troops were stationed in France along the front lines, where conditions were difficult and dangerous. Much of the soldiers' time was spent in trenches, narrow defensive ditches dug into the ground. The men were often damp, muddy, and homesick.
Why did the author include this information?
To compare the challenges faced by United States Army troops to those of the Salvation Army
To illustrate why soldiers had an appreciation for donuts and the Donut Lassies who provided them
To explain why Americans on the front lines wrote so many letters home to family and friends
To argue that the United States was not prepared for the poor conditions on the front lines in France