By Tim Douglass

tdouglass@pctribune.com

The Salvation Army, led by local field representative Donna Ortendahl, served donuts and coffee last week to local law enforcement, EMTs and front-line responders, recognizing the important work they do for the area each and every day. 

The Salvation Army is continuing what the “Donut Lassies” started in 1917 during WWI.  The “Donut Lassies” made donuts for the country’s military men to thank them out on the battlefield for working to protect the country. Since then, the Salvation Army has kept the tradition alive, serving donuts to front-line workers on what has become known as National Donut Day, held the first Friday of June.  This year, the Salvation Army set up a table of donuts and served coffee for first responders at the Glenwood Fire Hall/Law Enforcement Center on Friday, June 7.  Boxes of donuts were also sent back to the county courthouse and the Glacial Ridge Hospital for first responders who couldn’t make it to the event.  

“I’m glad we are here today to celebrate ‘You’,” said Ortendahl, who is a Central Minnesota Field Representative for The Salvation Army. “Today we honor and celebrate our first responders who are on the front lines defending us from fire, natural disasters and those who look to do us harm,” she added.  

“We’re here to thank you for all that you do each and every day for those in our community,” Ortendahl stated.  “From the behind the scenes things that you do, from the first call that is made for help to the medical assistance or rescue that is done from the incident that brought on that call for help,” she added,

“Our community is so much stronger because of the way you respond to emergencies and face the problems that arise each time a call comes in for help,” Ortendahl said before a crowd of law enforcement officers, first responders and firefighters who assembled at the event.  “You have taken that oath of service to protect and serve and we appreciate you; we see you; and we support you. Thank you for the sacrifices you all make to keep our community safe and protected,” Ortendahl said.

History of the ‘Donut Lassies’ 

The Salvation Army in Chicago celebrated the first national Donut Day in 1938 to help those in need during the Great Depression and to commemorate the work of the Donut Lassies who served donuts to soldiers during WWI. 

In 1917, The Salvation Army began a mission to provide spiritual and emotional support for U.S. soldiers fighting in France during WWI. About 250 volunteers traveled overseas and set up small huts near the front lines where they could give soldiers clothes, supplies and, of course, baked goods. 

Despite discovering that serving baked goods would be difficult considering the conditions of the huts and the limited rations, two officers–Ensign Margaret Sheldon and Adjutant Helen Purviance–began frying donuts. These tasty treats boosted morale and won the hearts of many soldiers. 

Nicknamed “Donut Lassies,” the women who served donuts to the troops often credited with popularizing the donut in the Unites States when the troops (nicknamed “Doughboys”) returned home from war. 

The donut now serves as a symbol of the comfort that The Salvation Army provides to those in need through its many social services programs. The Salvation Army still serves donuts, in addition to warm meals and hydration, to those in need during times of disaster. 

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