Chattanooga firefighters from Station 3 in Lookout Valley were surprised with free doughnuts from the Chattanooga chapter of the Salvation Army. Children from a local Church of Christ church were among the volunteers delivering the doughnuts to emergency workers throughout the city.
While Chattanooga firefighters spent the morning collecting spare change for the Ronald McDonald House, they received gifts themselves Friday morning, in the form of doughnuts. The Salvation Army is celebrating the 75th National Doughnut Day Friday by delivering the treats to firefighters, police officers and other emergency responders, to thank them for their hard and dangerous work.
“Doughnuts were invented by the Salvation Army during World War I, so it seemed fitting to honor service members with the fried treats,” said Kimberly George, director of marketing and development for the Salvation Army in Chattanooga. Ms. George said this is the first year the Chattanooga branch has delivered doughnuts. “Whether it is fighting poverty or violence, we have a lot of folks here who put their lives on the line to protect us.”
The Salvation Army is one of the first agencies to respond when disaster strikes. In the Tennessee Valley, the Army maintains a mobile emergency feeding unit, or canteen, to provide meals, hydration and comfort for disaster victims and relief workers. The Salvation Army also provides emergency assistance to help families and individuals survive crisis situations, including help with food and clothing, utility assistance, and help with medical assistance.
Daylight Donuts, Dunkin’ Donuts and Krispy Kreme all contributed to the Salvation Army’s National Doughnut Day in this region. For more information on the Chattanooga chapter of the Salvation Army, visit this website at http://www.csarmy.org/index.asp.