The Salvation Army of Broward County, together with Dunkin’, will celebrate National Donut Day (June 3), the sweetest day of the year, by honoring local public servants, first responders and healthcare workers. Dunkin’ will supply hundreds of their delicious donuts to serve as a symbol of hope to Broward County community members who work hard, daily, to save lives and provide comfort and inspiration!
“Many people don’t realize the humble origins of National Donut Day as an initiative to offer comfort to soldiers abroad,” said Major Stephen Long, area commander for The Salvation Army of Broward County. “This well-loved holiday is a reminder that small acts can make a big difference and we’ve certainly put that mission to the test over the past two years. We are thankful to Dunkin’ for their generous support and to the numerous individuals in our region who tirelessly work to save lives.”
National Donut Day became a holiday thanks to The Salvation Army’s work during World War I. In 1938, The Salvation Army in Chicago celebrated the very first National Donut Day, honoring The Salvation Army’s “Donut Lassies” who traveled overseas to provide emotional and spiritual support, supplies, and other services to our troops on the front lines in France. The Lassies also provided fresh donuts and hot coffee to soldiers fighting in the trenches in order to raise their spirits and thank them for their service. The donut now serves as a symbol of the services and comfort The Salvation Army provides to more than 23 million people each year. The Salvation Army still serves donuts, in addition to warm meals and hydration, to those in need during times of disaster.
“National Donut Day is one of the biggest days of the year for Dunkin’ and we’re always looking for ways to give back and make an impact in the local community,” said Erica Roomy, field marketing manager at Dunkin’. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with The Salvation Army of Broward County every year to continue the tradition of celebrating our hometown heroes with delicious donuts.”
To commemorate National Donut Day’s historic roots and to demonstrate the impact of a small token of kindness, The Salvation Army of Broward County will make special deliveries to Broward Health Medical Center, Holy Cross Medical Center, Broward Sheriff’s Office, Police and Fire Rescue Departments and Stations in Fort Lauderdale, Davie, Wilton Manors, Coconut Creek, Margate, Hollywood, Sunrise, Weston and more.
Organizations interested in donating food and/or funds to The Salvation Army of Broward County should contact Joshua Myers, director of development, at (954) 712-2431 or via email at Joshua.Myers@uss.salvationarmy.org.
To learn more about National Donut Day, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org/usn/national-donut-day.
About Dunkin’
Founded in 1950, Dunkin’ is America’s favorite all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin’ is a market leader in the hot regular/decaf/flavored coffee, iced regular/decaf/flavored coffee, donut, bagel, and muffin categories. Dunkin’ has earned a No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for 15 years running. The company has more than 12,600 franchised restaurants in 40 countries worldwide. Dunkin’ is part of the Inspire Brands family of restaurants. For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.
About The Salvation Army of Broward County
The Salvation Army is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to “meeting human needs without discrimination.” Since 1926, The Salvation Army has been active in Broward County serving thousands of our most needy community members. Today, it offers a number of vital programs including its Economic Stability Program, the Open Door Project emergency shelter, a food pantry, transitional family housing, New Beginnings for pregnant homeless women and disaster services. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.SalvationArmyFlorida.org/FortLauderdale or call (954) 524-6991. Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BrowardSalvationArmy, on Instagram @salvationarmybroward and on Twitter @SalArmyBroward.
