The Salvation Army Greater Philadelphia

06/05/2026

Today, we had the opportunity to celebrate National Donut Day with donut distributions for veterans at the West Philadelphia VA Clinic and Community Resource & Referral Center. We also made a surprise stop at the headquarters to thank the men and women who protect our city and leave them a sweet treat from our partners at

In addition to sharing donuts, our volunteers and staff had the privilege of thanking local veterans for their service and connecting with them throughout the day.

Special thanks to our partners at .snacks for providing chips included in the distributions.

Help us continue serving veterans, families, and neighbors across Greater Philadelphia: https://salarmy.us/GivePhilly (link in bio)

06/05/2026

06/05/2026

👀 We’re on the move for National Donut Day and our Week of Hope!

Follow along in our Stories throughout the day as The Salvation Army Greater Philadelphia visits veterans, shares smiles, and spreads hope across our community. 🍩❤️

You never know where we’ll pop up next—check back often, give us a wave if you see us out and about, and join us in celebrating a tradition of service more than 100 years in the making!



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06/05/2026

🍩 Today is National Donut Day! 🍩

During World War I, Salvation Army Donut Lassies served fresh donuts to soldiers overseas, creating a tradition that would eventually inspire National Donut Day.

We’re sharing one of the original recipes connected to the Donut Lassies so you can try making them at home and take part in a piece of Salvation Army history.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Make it a fun family activity this weekend! Gather your loved ones, roll up your sleeves, and see if you can recreate this historic recipe together.

📸 We’d love to see your creations! Snap a photo of your homemade donuts, share them on social media, and tag The Salvation Army Greater Philadelphia so we can celebrate with you and feature some of our favorites.

❤️ Help us continue the legacy of the Donut Lassies by supporting our Donut Week of Hope and helping us spread encouragement and hope throughout our community:
https://easternusa.salvationarmy.org/eastern-pennsylvania/greater-philadelphia/ways-to-give/ (Link in Bio)

Who will be your donut-making helper this weekend? Tag them below! ⬇️

06/05/2026

🍩 TODAY’S THE DAY! 🍩

National Donut Day is here, and The Salvation Army Greater Philadelphia staff and Officers are hitting the road for our Week of Hope! ❤️

Throughout the day, our staff and officers will be visiting local veteran-serving organizations, sharing donuts, encouragement, gratitude, and hope with those who have served our country.

🚐 If you spot The Salvation Army van out in the community today, give us a wave, take a picture, tag us! 👋

Follow our page throughout the day as we share photos, stories, and behind-the-scenes moments from our journey across Greater Philadelphia. Together, we’re honoring the legacy of the Donut Lassies and continuing a tradition of service that began more than 100 years ago.

Where do you think we’ll be stopping today? Drop your guess below! ⬇️

06/04/2026

As Donut Week of Hope continues, Divisional Director of Partnerships Rev. Bonnie Camarda and Philadelphia Social Services Ministries Director Kelly Devlin joined The Salvation Army Eastern Pennsylvania & Delaware Division at the Pennsylvania Capitol this week.

The team shared the story behind National Donut Day and invited our local legislators and Capitol staff to enjoy complimentary donuts and coffee we had on-site.

The same spirit of service that inspired the Donut Lassies continues today through programs that support individuals and families across Greater Philadelphia.

Help us continue that legacy: https://easternusa.salvationarmy.org/eastern-pennsylvania/greater-philadelphia/ways-to-give/

06/04/2026

🍩 TRIVIA ANSWER TIME! 🍩

Question: How many donuts do you think The Salvation Army Donut Lassies served to soldiers during World War I?

• 250,000
• 1 Million
• 9 Million


🎉 The answer is C. 9 Million!

The Salvation Army’s Donut Lassies served an estimated 9 million donuts to American soldiers during World War I, bringing comfort, encouragement, and a taste of home to those serving far from their families.

More than a century later, we’re still carrying that same spirit of hope and service into communities across Greater Philadelphia and beyond.

As we celebrate National Donut Day: Week of Hope, we honor the legacy of the Donut Lassies and the impact of simple acts of kindness that continue to change lives today. ❤️🍩

06/03/2026

🍩❤️ NATIONAL DONUT DAY: WEEK OF HOPE IS IN FULL SWING! ❤️🍩

Today, The Salvation Army Greater Philadelphia proudly continued a tradition that began more than 100 years ago when the Donut Lassies served fresh donuts to soldiers on the front lines during World War I.

This morning, our development team shared donuts, smiles, gratitude, and hope with Veterans across Philadelphia:

📍 The Philadelphia VA Healthcare System’s Northeast Philadelphia Veterans Center

📍 The Philadelphia VA Healthcare System’s Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center

In addition to donuts, Veterans also received snacks generously donated by .snacks as part of the company’s incredible 80th Anniversary ‘Thank You’ Initiative. This summer, Herr’s is supporting local nonprofits across the region by donating more than 80,000 bags of snacks to strengthen communities and spread kindness.

“National Donut Day is rooted in The Salvation Army’s history of showing up for people with comfort, care and connection,” said Captain Benjamin Lyle, Divisional Secretary for The Salvation Army Greater Philadelphia. “Today, we continue that legacy by honoring those who have served our nation and reminding them that they are seen, valued, and appreciated.”

“We are grateful for organizations like The Salvation Army that help create meaningful moments of connection and appreciation for our Veterans,” said Karen Flaherty-Oxler, RADM USN (ret), Executive Medical Center Director of the Philadelphia VA Healthcare System. “These simple acts of kindness remind our Veterans that their local communities and this Nation are grateful for their sacrifice.”

A special thank you to Herr’s for helping make today even sweeter and to the veterans who inspire us every day through their service and sacrifice.

This is what hope looks like.
This is what community looks like.
This is what National Donut Day is all about.

Keep an eye out for our Salvation Army van in the community again on Friday! If you spot us, give us a wave!!

06/03/2026

🍩 Late Night Fun Fact!

Most people know The Salvation Army’s Donut Lassies served donuts during World War I…

But did you know they often used wine bottles as rolling pins and soldiers’ helmets as mixing bowls because they didn’t have proper kitchen equipment on the front lines?

Talk about making the best of what you have!

That ingenuity, compassion, and determination helped create a tradition that lives on through National Donut Day more than 100 years later.

06/03/2026

📍 TSA in the Community: Standing Together Against Human Trafficking

Human trafficking can happen anywhere—and awareness is one of the most powerful tools we have to prevent it.

Join community leaders, advocates, public safety professionals, and organizations across Philadelphia for the Human Trafficking: Awareness & Prevention Training on Tuesday, June 9, from 12:00 PM–1:30 PM (Virtual).

As Philadelphia prepares to welcome an unprecedented number of visitors for FIFA World Cup 2026 and other major events, this training will provide critical information, warning signs, and resources to help protect vulnerable individuals and strengthen our communities.

The Salvation Army program is proud to stand alongside the City of Philadelphia, the Office of Public Safety, and community partners in the fight against human trafficking.

Together, awareness leads to action. Action leads to hope.