Is the National Donut Day about actual donuts? Yes, it is, but there is more. The day is about the positive role women played by serving the modest delicacy during World War 1 (WWI).
June 5, 2026, is National Donut Day. And it all began with a generous wartime gesture. The Salvation Army, a Christian church in the United States, wanted to help its soldiers during the First World War (WWI).
It sent some women to the war fields in France, to prepare home-made donuts for their soldiers. For those soldiers, some of them under 20, this was a morale booster. It gave them a taste of home and kept their hopes alive.
Today, some Western countries celebrate National Donut Day, a celebration first held in 1938. The celebration commemorates the support women provided during WWI, which ran from 1914 to 1918.
How did WWI Begin?
World War I began when a Bosnian Serb assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. Consequently, Austria-Hungary set out to fight Serbia. As the war escalated, other countries took sides.
Soon, Russia was involved, siding with Serbia. In due course, Great Britain, Canada, Italy, France, and the United States were fighting as allies. Their rivals, siding with Austria-Hungary, were Germany, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire.
Significance of Donut Day
Donut Day is very significant because the service the women provided helped keep American soldiers in the war longer. It is noteworthy that the US had not been enthusiastic about joining the war.
Pioneers of the Donut Service
Two women came up with the idea of making donuts for the American soldiers. One of them was called Helen Purviance. The other one was Margaret Sheldon. Soon, two more joined them.
In due course, the “donut lassies” as they were later referred to, increased in number. They were, therefore, able to make donuts in their thousands.
The Salvation Army had American soldiers in mind when it sent the girls to the battlefield to offer their support. However, the girls were soon serving the precious donuts to America’s allies as well.
This was a time when countries like Israel were yet to appear on the world map. At that time, some of today’s battleground areas were just one big Palestine.
Countries that Celebrate the National Donut Day
The countries that currently celebrate National Donut Day include the US, Canada, and Australia. They do a wide range of activities to revive the spirit of the donut supply service of WWI.
For instance, some stores and supermarkets offer discounts on donuts. Others have free issues for buyers.
In some cases, employers treat their employees to generous servings of donuts with hot beverages.