Honoring Those Who Served Our Country
The Salvation Army has made it our mission to serve veterans who have dutifully served us.
Roughly 8% of the U.S. homeless population is composed of veterans, with housing insecurity, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse disorders often leading to a need for short- or long-term assistance.
The Salvation Army’s veteran programming has a long history of connection with the community, offering housing, job training, financial literacy classes, mental health support, and assistance accessing vital resources. To ensure veterans return to life in the community persevering and thriving, we designed our programs to encourage long-term stability in housing, job placement, and independent living.
At the forefront of veterans support, The Salvation Army’s veterans programming at the Carr P. Collins Social Service Center and J.E. & L.E. Mabee Social Service Center operate daily to provide critical services for chronically homeless and disabled veterans. As the largest shelter provider for veterans in North Texas, we provide temporary and permanent housing, comprehensive case management, job training, clinical and mental health support, and assistance accessing vital resources, such as VA benefits.
It’s an honor to give veterans a safe place to rest their heads, eat a hot meal, and get a fresh start. And it all began during World War I.
In 1917, The Salvation Army embarked to France to bring spiritual support to Americans who were risking their lives overseas. At the personal request of Gen. John J. Pershing, volunteers traveled overseas to set up small huts near the front lines, where they dispersed clothes and essential supplies. That included sweet treats that they handmade and delivered directly to the soldiers.
Serving baked goods was difficult, considering the conditions and limited rations, but two officers persevered and began frying donuts. They quickly learned that they were making a taste of home that boosted morale and won the hearts of many homesick soldiers.
During WWI, up to 9,000 donuts were served to the troops daily. The brave Salvation Army volunteers were nicknamed“Donut Lassies,” and today are often credited with popularizing the donut in the U.S. when the troops, nicknamed “Doughboys,” returned home from war.
In 1938, The Salvation Army established National Donut Day to help those in need during the Great Depression and commemorate the fearless women who risked their lives to raise spirits, boost morale, and fuel hope.
Today, the donut serves as a symbol and reminder of the comfort The Salvation Army provided — and still does. National Donut Day is held annually on the first Friday in June, and many local Salvation Army locations celebrate the work of the original Donut Lassies.
This year, in recognition of Donut Day, sponsored by Higginbotham, The Salvation Army of North Texas delivered donuts to veterans and first responders across the region. At the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Dallas, volunteers distributed more than 700 donuts to patients, visitors, and residents.
A time-honored tradition, we are grateful to be able to give a hand and our hearts to those struggling to find their way after coming back home.