# Salvation Army honors legacy of Donut Lassies on National Donut Day **Published:** 2026-06-04T20:44:55.000Z **Source:** [Lane Report (KY Business)](https://www.lanereport.com/188035/2026/06/the-salvation-army-celebrates-national-donut-day/) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/salvation-army-honors-legacy-of-donut-lassies-on-national-donut-day FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Salvation Army is celebrating the 88th annual National Donut Day on June 5 with donut distributions honoring the organization's rich military heritage and commitment to serving communities across Central Kentucky, according to [reporting from the Lane Report](https://www.lanereport.com/188035/2026/06/the-salvation-army-celebrates-national-donut-day/). The first National Donut Day was celebrated in Chicago in 1938 to honor the history of The Salvation Army's Donut Lassies, women who were sent to France in 1917 to establish field bases near the front lines during World War I. In makeshift huts, thousands of soldiers would come to stock up on essential goods and grab a sweet treat baked by the Lassies, bringing a light of hope and happiness to the battlefield and providing a much-needed morale boost for soldiers. The organization plans to distribute donuts to veteran groups and local first responders in Danville, Frankfort, and Richmond. The celebration honors these women and was originally a fundraiser for Chicago's Salvation Army. [Poppy's Bakery](https://www.poppy-bakery.com/) in Frankfort will generously provide donuts for the celebration. In Central Kentucky, The Salvation Army began serving the region in 1897 and served over 45,000 individuals through comprehensive programs last year. The organization's local efforts include a range of community services. The Salvation Army offers rental assistance, emergency food assistance, clothing, household wares, emergency housing, disaster emergency assistance, Christmas Assistance and an Angel Tree Program. Lieutenant Judah Irvin, Corps Officer of The Salvation Army of Danville, emphasized the holiday's significance. "National Donut Day is a beautiful reminder of what has always defined our mission, showing up for people in their most difficult moments with compassion and care," Irvin said in the Lane Report article. "From the battlefields of World War I to the neighborhoods of Central Kentucky today, that dedication to serving our community with joy and purpose has never wavered." Those interested in learning more about the local Salvation Army or volunteering can contact the Danville Corps at 859-236-4473, the Frankfort Corps at 502-227-2638, or the Richmond Corps at 859-624-5826. More information about National Donut Day is available at [the Salvation Army's official website](https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/national-donut-day/). ## Sources - [Lane Report (KY Business)](https://www.lanereport.com/188035/2026/06/the-salvation-army-celebrates-national-donut-day/) - [National Donut Day history and information from the Salvation Army](https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/national-donut-day/) - [Salvation Army Central Kentucky services and community impact](https://www.givemn.org/organization/The-Salvation-Army-Lexington-Kentucky-Command) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Lane Report (KY Business), enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://www.lanereport.com/188035/2026/06/the-salvation-army-celebrates-national-donut-day/.