Today, Friday June 4 is National Donut Day. Participants include Dunkin Donuts, which will be offering a free donut with the purchase of any coffee product and Krispy Kreme, which will be giving out free donuts while supplies last, without any additional purchase.
The holiday began in 1938 as a fundraiser created by the Salvation Army for the Chicago area. It honors the Salvation Army “Lassies,” who during World War I were the only outside personnel allowed to visit the military front line.
The women brought home goods and pastries to give the homesick and tiresome soldiers who were then dubbed, “doughboys.”
History books show that it was permissible for these women to visit the front line in France before the Red Cross, and that Lt. Col. Helen Purviance was the first official, “donut girl,” in 1917.
The first donuts were reportedly made by hand over a small wood fire in a frying pan.
