Public Service Announcement

Friday, June 5, 2009


Today is National Doughnut Day. It's always celebrated the first Friday in June and was started in 1938 by the Chicago Salvation Army to raise funds during the Great Depression and to honor the World War I "lassies".



During WWI, the Salvation Army lassies were sent to the front lines of Europe. These brave volunteers made home cooked foods, and provided a moral boost to the troops. Often, the doughnuts were cooked in oil inside the of the metal helmet of an American soldier. The American infantrymen were commonly called doughboys.

Salvation Army lassies were the only women outside of military personnel allowed to visit the front lines. Ensign Helen Purviance is considered the Salvation Army's "first doughnut girl".



Fun Doughnut Facts:

In the U.S. alone, more than 10 billion doughnuts are made every year.

The largest donut ever made was an American-style jelly doughnut weighing 1.7 tons, which was 16 feet in diameter and 16 inches high in the center.

Per capita, Canada has more doughnut shops than any other country.

The hole in the doughnut's center appeared in the first half of the 19th Century.

Adolph Levitt invented the first doughnut machine in 1920.

There's a doctor at my hospital that looks like the "gotta make the doughnuts" guy from the Dunkin Donut commercials.


Check out your local doughnut shops for FREE giveaways today.

14 comments

  1. That explains why my girlfriend said:
    "We have to celebrate with donuts."
    "What are we celebrating?" I asked
    "The donuts."

    ReplyDelete
  2. What would you guys do without us?

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  3. time to make the doughnuts.
    infamous!

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  4. Wonderful post, Chrissy! I had no idea about this - really enjoyed reading the doughnut facts!

    OK...so now you've put me in the mood for a Bavarian cream doughnut at Dunkin' Doughnuts!

    I'm on my way!

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  5. Lovely, now I'm craving Krispy Kreme. When is Beer Day, incidentally?

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  6. The absolute last thing I'd need is old cooking oil leaking from the inside of my helmet. As it is, I have to use shampoo for oily hair (and not because I bathe in Crisco).

    ReplyDelete
  7. Stacie,
    Weren't they the best commercials?

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  8. Ron,
    How was your Bavarian Creme Donut? I'll vicariously through you since I'm on this diet.

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  9. Chris,

    I think beer day is on any day that ends in "y".

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  10. Ooh! Love the doughnuts. Makes me want to go out right now and get one. Okay, gotta go. I'll chat at ya later. Fun post!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Interestingly enough I sold approximately infinity doughnuts today. At my wonderful job at Stewart's

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  12. Theresa,
    Hope you were able to indulge!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Johnnie,
    I could never work anywhere that sold food. I would eat the inventory.

    And BTW, can't get FUPA out of my head, thank you. Crazy!

    ReplyDelete

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