MUNCIE – On Friday, June 5, The Salvation Army of Muncie will celebrate National Donut Day in partnership with Concannon’s Pastry Shop at 4801 W. Baker Lane in Muncie. The public is invited to visit the bakery during normal operating hours to enjoy a free glazed donut and learn more about the incredible young women who inspired the creation of National Donut Day.
Every year on the first Friday of June, America celebrates National Donut Day with free treats and donut deals, but behind the glaze and sprinkles is a powerful history of remarkable women who showed up with compassion when it mattered most. This June 5, The Salvation Army of Muncie invites its neighbors to fill our community with joy by honoring the heart and resilience of the tradition.
National Donut Day was established in 1938 to honor the women who volunteered with The Salvation Army to provide spiritual and emotional care, critical supplies, and freshly fried donuts to American soldiers on the front lines of World War I. These women became known as “Donut Lassies,” and today, their legacy is a reminder that small acts of kindness can carry enormous joy.
Nearly nine decades later, The Salvation Army continues to provide essential services and programs to vulnerable communities in nearly every ZIP code. In Delaware County, The Salvation Army provided more than 18,000 nutritious meals to residents in 2025. Vital social services, like rent and utility assistance, were provided to 2,321 Delaware County residents last year.
“National Donut Day is a special reminder of what has always defined the mission of The Salvation Army, showing up for people in their most difficult moments with compassion and care,” said Major Katie Pinkston. “From the battlefields of World War I to the neighborhoods of Muncie today, that dedication to serving our community with joy and purpose has never wavered.”
Sharing a donut with a neighbor or volunteering in our community is a simple way to carry forward the tradition of spreading joy this June 5.
