Connecticut – On Friday, June 2nd , The Salvation Army will be kicking off Donut Day at Lyman Orchards, located at 32 Reeds Gap Road in Middlefield, at 9:00 a.m. After a brief press conference, Salvation Army personnel will depart with their supply of donuts that will be served to veterans, VA employees, reservists, and active-duty service members throughout Connecticut.

The distribution sites include the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 287 West Street in Rocky Hill, the Newington Veterans Medical Center located at 555 Willard Avenue, and the Veterans Medical Center located at 950 Campbell Avenue in West Haven. Lyman Orchards is donating 700 donuts for National Donut Day.

National Donut Day is celebrated each year on the first Friday of June (June 2nd), but people may be surprised to learn that donuts do more than simply taste good. They can actually do good, too.

The Salvation Army established National Donut Day in 1938 to honor The Salvation Army’s “Donut Lassies,” who made history when they risked their lives to raise spirits and fuel hope by serving thousands of soldiers during WWI, in part by delivering donuts and other sweet treats to those in the war.

In 1917, Salvation Army volunteers traveled to France and set up makeshift huts on the front lines, where they provided essential goods and sweet treats to boost morale. The donut was then, and continues to be, a taste of home and a symbol of comfort for Americans.

More than a hundred years later, The Salvation Army is still serving on the front lines, now through a wide range of social services for America’s most vulnerable individuals and families. In 2022, The Salvation Army served over 460,000 meals to those in need in Connecticut.

“Lyman Orchards is proud to be working with The Salvation Army to support our veterans and active service members on National Donut Day,” said John Lyman, Executive Vice President of Lyman Orchards. “What better way to celebrate than with our cinnamon cider donuts, which are voted consistently as Connecticut’s best donuts.”

“As the citizens of Connecticut celebrate National Donut Day, we are proud to remember that this fun tradition of sharing a sweet treat and a happy memory started with our very own volunteers over a hundred years ago,” said Major Debra Ashcraft, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army’s Southern New England Division. “If you ask me, knowing that the day has its roots in the fight for good and serving those on the frontlines makes those pastries taste even sweeter.”

The Salvation Army will be hosting the following National Donut Day activities, serving veterans, VA employees, reservists, and active-duty service members.

Newington Veterans Medical Center
555 Willard Avenue, Newington, CT
Late morning

Rocky Hill Department of Veterans Affairs
287 West Street, Rocky Hill, CT
11:30 a.m.

West Haven Veterans Medical Center
950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT
Late morning

For more information about National Donut Day, to find out more about local activities, and to donate, visit: ctri.SalvationArmy.org
For a wide array of historical and modern Donut Day images, B-roll, and our original century-old donut recipe, click here.

About The Salvation Army USA 
The Salvation Army annually helps 30 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,600 centers of operation around the country. In the first-ever listing of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army ranked as the country’s largest privately funded, direct-service nonprofit. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter: @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood