LaMar’s Donuts and The Salvation Army Thank Veterans and Achieve a Guinness World Record
DENVER, COLORADO (June 4, 2024) – The countdown is on: National Donut Day is June 7. Every year on the first Friday in June, The Salvation Army and LaMar’s Donuts & Coffee team up for a day of service.
This year, the partnership is aiming high: LaMar’s Donuts & Coffee will strive for a world record by donating the most donuts – about 300 dozen – in an hour. Donuts will be distributed at Salvation Army sites and to emergency services personnel throughout the Denver metro area. Additionally, The Salvation Army officers and staff will hand out nearly 2,000 LaMar’s donuts at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in Aurora.
Donut lovers are welcome to visit any LaMar’s location in the Denver metro area to receive a free glazed donut on June 7 and to support the services that The Salvation Army provides in our local communities.
“The Salvation Army Donut Day is a reminder that when our young fighting men were serving on the front lines of battle, The Salvation Army was with them, providing practical support and giving them a donut, and often a shoulder to lean on,” said Intermountain Divisional Commander Major Nesan Kistan. “Today, we are still serving on the front lines of society, supporting men and women in need of our love in action.”
The Salvation Army’s connection to donuts began in 1917 when approximately 250 Salvation Army volunteers, known as “Donut Lassies,” set up in abandoned buildings near the front lines in France during WWI. The Donut Lassies served up to 9,000 donuts daily to American soldiers during WWI and WWII. They represented a glimpse of home life for the soldiers – helping to write letters, brewing coffee, sewing on buttons. Donut Lassies also provided writing supplies, stamps and – of course – a warm donut.
The Salvation Army created the first Donut Day event in Chicago in 1938 as a fundraiser to help those in need during The Great Depression. Every year, The Salvation Army honors active troops, military veterans and emergency responders with these sweet treats.
About The Salvation Army USA
The Salvation Army (TSA) annually helps nearly 24 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 addiction, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is Doing the Most Good at nearly 7,000 centers of operation around the country. For more information, visit TSA Intermountain Division or SalvationArmyUSA.org.