The Salvation Army Celebrates National Donut Day on June 5, Supporting Those Fighting on the Front Lines of COVID-19 Pandemic
The Salvation Army Celebrates National Donut Day on June 5, Supporting Those Fighting on the Front Lines of COVID-19 Pandemic
600 Donuts from Oakmont Bakery Delivered to the VA Hospital near Aspinwall
PHOTO Left/Right: Salvation Army Major Jodi Lloyd; Jamie Vaughn, Associate Chief Nurse of Long-Term Care at the VA; Salvation Army Lieutenant Kelsey Senak; and Steven Handler, Associate Chief of Staff for Geriatrics and Extended Care at the VA
Friday, June 5, 2020 (PITTSBURGH, Pa.) -- The Salvation Army Western PA Division celebrates National Donut Day today with the delivery of a generous donation of 600 donuts provided by Oakmont Bakery to the health care workers and patients at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System’s H.J. Heinz III campus near Aspinwall.
“I’m proud to work with The Salvation Army,” said Oakmont Bakery Owner Marc Serrao. “We are blessed because we believe in giving back! Matthew 25:40 and Luke 6:38 guide us.”
Today’s delivery at the VA carries on The Salvation Army’s legacy of “Donut Lassies” who served soldiers in France fighting on the front lines of WW1, lending comfort and food in their greatest time of need.
National Donut Day extends that legacy of giving to present challenges, as Oakmont Bakery provides a sweet and delicious morale boost not only for those fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, but those who have served our country.
“The Donut Lassies of World War I embodied what we at The Salvation Army strive to demonstrate through our work each day - to serve as a light in the darkness and to provide kindness and care where it is needed most,” said The Salvation Army’s Divisional Commander Major Raphael Jackson. “Those serving on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic here at the VA show that same care for those who served on the front lines for our country, and we hope these delicious donuts bring smiles to their faces today.”
Salvation Army donation kettles are onsite at Oakmont Bakery today (June 5) for members of the public who wish to support those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with monetary donations.
“We are grateful that The Salvation Army chose our health care warriors and the American heroes they serve to recognize in celebration of National Donut Day 2020,” said David Difuccia, VA program leader, voluntary services and recreation therapy. “As we continue to work to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our facilities, we genuinely appreciate the community's support.”
National Donut Day was originally established to honor The Salvation Army's work to serve soldiers in France during World War I. Nearly 250 volunteers traveled overseas to provide emotional and spiritual support, baked goods, clothes and supplies to troops. The “Donut Lassies” fried donuts in a small pan to boost morale of U.S. soldiers and are credited with popularizing the donut in the United States when troops returned home from war.
The Salvation Army continues to support frontline workers and first responders year-round, by providing snacks, hydration, and comfort to those responding to tragedy. Today, they are providing those same services in response to a different kind of need in the form of personal protective gear (PPE) donations, childcare, meals and hydration, and cot delivery to these frontline workers across the country.
Celebrating over 150 years of global service as both a church and a social service organization, The Salvation Army began in London, England in 1865. Today, it provides critical services in 127 countries worldwide. The 28-county Western Pennsylvania Division serves thousands of needy families through a wide variety of support services. To learn more about The Salvation Army in Western Pennsylvania, log on to www.wpa.salvationarmy.org The Salvation Army … doing the most good for the most people in the most need.
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS) is one of the largest and most progressive VA health care systems in the nation. More than 4,000 employees serve nearly 80,000 veterans every year, providing a range of services from complex transplant medicine to routine primary care. VAPHS is a leader in virtual care delivery through telehealth technology; a center of research and learning with 116 research investigators and $17 million in funding; and a provider of state-of-the-art health care training to some 1,500 student trainees annually. VAPHS provides care at medical centers in Oakland and O’Hara Township in Pennsylvania and five outpatient clinics in Belmont County, Ohio, and Beaver, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties in Pennsylvania. Veterans can call 412-360-6993 to check eligibility or enrollment. Stay up to date at pittsburgh.va.gov and facebook.com/vaphs.