DONUT DOLLIES
One of America’s favorite sweets — the doughnut — has a surprisingly heroic history. Although invented in the 1800s, doughnuts weren’t popularized until World War I, when some brave women took on the mission of making and delivering the baked goods to soldiers on the front lines overseas.
National Doughnut Day, celebrated the first Friday of each June (June 4 this year) since 1938, was established by the Salvation Army to honor these heroines, affectionately known as Donut Lassies. Later known as Donut Dollies, they delivered the homemade treats to soldiers through the Vietnam War.
In 1917, the Salvation Army sent about 250 volunteers to France to bring American soldiers in the trenches some cheer and comfort. Initially they provided the same things the evangelical Christian charity provided stateside: religious services,
