Happy National Donut Day! It started in 1938 as a fundraiser for The Salvation Army in Chicago. The goal was to help those in need during the Great Depression and to honor the Salvation Army “Doughnut Girls”, who delivered the sweet treats to soldiers during World War I.
Around 250 Salvation Army volunteers went to France shortly after the U.S. entered WWI. They created “huts” near the front lines that served baked goods, provided writing supplies and stamps, and clothes mending. Due to the difficulties of making fresh baked goods at the huts near the front lines, 2 volunteers had the idea of serving donuts. They were a huge hit with the servicemen, and the women who did this work were soon known as “Doughnut Girls” or “Doughnut Lassies”. In Chicago and many other cities, National Donut Day is still a fundraiser for the Salvation Army.
Because donuts were quick to produce with automated machines and relatively inexpensive they became a staple of the working class during the Great Depression. In 1933, they were declared the “Hit Food of the Century of Progress” at the Chicago World’s Fair.
Today, more than 10 billion donuts are made in the U.S. each year. The Providence, RI area has the highest number of donut shops per capita, with 23.25 donut shops per 100,000 people. And a poll in 2021 found that cream filled donuts are the most popular flavor in America, followed by plain glazed and chocolate glazed. Learn more here.