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The Salvation Army and National Donut Day

Jun 08, 2021

Fifty cents from each dozen donuts sold at GIANT Stores in Pennsylvania on June 4 was donated to The Salvation Army

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.  — The Salvation Army of Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware celebrated National Donut Day on June 4, with the support of The GIANT Company. The GIANT Company donated .50 per dozen donuts sold at its Pennsylvania stores to The Salvation Army to help the faith-based organization continue its mission of serving community members in need.

In addition, an online event was hosted to bring employees of The Salvation Army, volunteers, community partners and donors together to celebrate National Donut Day. Attendees learned about the history of National Donut Day and the division’s work in serving community members in need on the front lines of the pandemic over the last year.

“The Salvation Army of Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware is grateful for The GIANT Company helping us celebrate National Donut Day this year,” said Lt. Col. Larry Ashcraft, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army of Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware. “This gesture not only helps The Salvation Army continue to provide for those struggling, but it also provides another reason for us to celebrate a day that is near and dear to our hearts.”

National Donut Day traces its roots to World War I when nearly 250 Salvation Army volunteers known as “Donut Lassies” traveled overseas to provide emotional and spiritual support as well as fried confections, supplies and other services to troops on the front lines. The Donut Lassies fried donuts in small pans and are credited with popularizing the donut in the United States when troops returned home from war. The Salvation Army in Chicago celebrated the first National Donut Day in 1938 to help those in need during the Great Depression and commemorate the Donut Lassies’ work.

Decades later, The Salvation Army continues to provide a wide range of essential services like food, shelter, bill payment support, and emotional and spiritual support to the most vulnerable individuals, families and communities.

“From serving soldiers on the front lines in WW1 to serving on the front lines during the pandemic, The Salvation Army will always be here to help meet all kinds of needs,” said Lt. Col. Ashcraft. “This year’s National Donut Day serves as a sweet reminder.”

 

Here is The Salvation Army’s original donut recipe from WW1:

Yield: 2 dozen donuts

  • 1 large egg
  • 2.5 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2.5 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/8 tablespoon salt
  • 7/8 cup milk
  • 1/2 tub lard (because it is no longer 1917, we actually recommend using healthier options like vegetable or coconut oil)

DIRECTIONS

  1. Combine all ingredients (except for oil) to make dough.
  2. Thoroughly knead dough, roll smooth, and cut into rings that are less than 1/4 inch thick. (When finding items to cut out donut circles, be creative! Salvation Army Donut Lassies used whatever they could find, from baking powder cans to coffee percolator tubes.)
  3. Drop the rings into the oil, making sure the oil is hot enough to brown the donuts gradually. Turn the donuts slowly several times.
  4. When browned, remove donuts and allow excess oil to drip off.
  5. Dust with powdered sugar. Let cool and enjoy.

 

For more information and to donate to The Salvation Army of Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware, visit PenDel.salvationarmy.org.

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