National Donut Day is a U.S. food holiday held on the first Friday of June each year to celebrate donuts and to honor Salvation Army volunteers who served them to soldiers during World War I.

What is National Donut Day?

  • It’s an unofficial holiday focused on enjoying and sharing donuts, often with special deals from bakeries and chains.
  • The day was created in 1938 by The Salvation Army in Chicago as a fundraiser to help people during the Great Depression and to honor the “Donut Lassies” who served donuts to troops in WWI.
  • It takes place every year on the first Friday in June, not on a fixed calendar date.

In short, when people ask “what is National Donut Day,” they’re talking about a WWI-inspired charity tradition that turned into a modern donut celebration with freebies, discounts, and lots of social media buzz.

Quick Scoop: Key Facts

  • Origin: Started in Chicago in 1938 as a Salvation Army fundraiser.
  • Purpose:
    • Honor Salvation Army “Donut Lassies” who boosted troop morale in WWI.
* Raise money for people in need during the Great Depression.
  • Date: First Friday of June each year.
  • Typical celebrations: Free or discounted donuts, charity events, social media campaigns, and local bakery promos.

A Little Story: The Donut Lassies

During World War I, around 1917, The Salvation Army sent about 250 volunteers to support U.S. soldiers in France. Conditions were rough, but two volunteers, Margaret Sheldon and Helen Purviance, began frying donuts in soldiers’ helmets so they could offer warm treats that felt like home.

These women became known as the “Donut Lassies” or “Doughnut Girls.” Their donuts were simple, but they were powerful morale boosters for soldiers who lined up at small huts for both supplies and a bit of comfort. When the troops came back, they helped popularize donuts across the United States, cementing the donut as a beloved American treat.

How people celebrate today

Modern National Donut Day has kept the charity roots but added a lot of fun, social, and “foodie” culture around it.

Common ways people celebrate:

  1. Visit donut shops
    • Many chains and local bakeries offer free donuts or buy‑one‑get‑one deals.
 * Some run limited-time flavors or charity tie‑ins benefiting local causes.
  1. Social media posts
    • People share photos of colorful donuts, DIY decorating sessions, and donut “flights.”
 * Popular hashtags include #NationalDonutDay, #DonutLove, and other donut-themed tags to boost visibility.
  1. Community and charity events
    • Some Salvation Army groups still mark the day with outreach, honoring the original purpose of helping those in need.
 * Schools, offices, and local organizations bring boxes of donuts to share, often with a nod to the WWI story.

Mini FAQ

Is it spelled donut or doughnut?
Both are accepted; “doughnut” is older, but “donut” became popular in the U.S., especially through brands like Dunkin’.

Is National Donut Day only in the U.S.?
It’s primarily an American observance tied to U.S. WWI history, though donut promos and online celebrations sometimes pop up internationally via social media.

Is it just about free food?
No—there’s a historical and charitable side: remembering WWI volunteers and the original fundraising mission to help people during hard times.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.