Today is National Doughnut Day. You can get a free doughnut with a coffee or a drink at many places. I got my chocolate frosted doughnut at Dunkin, with a hot latte with cream. What is your favorite doughnut shop?
This day was started in 1938 by the Salvation Army in Chicago to honor those of their members who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I.
From Wikipedia: Soon after the entrance of the United States into WWI in 1917, the Salvation Army sent a fact-finding mission to France. The mission concluded that the needs of American enlisted men could be met by canteens/social centers termed “huts” that could serve baked goods, provide writing supplies and stamps, and provide a clothes-mending service. Typically, there were 6 staff members which included 4 female volunteers.
About 250 Salvation Army volunteers went to France. Because of the difficulties of providing freshly baked goods from huts in abandoned buildings near the front lines, the two Salvation Army volunteers Ensign Margaret Sheldon and Adjutant Helen Purviance came up with the idea of providing doughnuts. They were a hit and many soldiers visited the huts.
Margaret Sheldon wrote of one busy day: “Today I made 22 pies, 300 doughnuts, 700 cups of coffee.” Soon, the women who did this work would become known by servicemen as “Doughnut Girls.” In Chicago and other places, it’s still a fundraiser today for the Salvation Army.
I’m enjoying my hot creamy latte as I write this blog post. In other news this week, I had an anointed guest speaker on my podcast this week, Elizabeth Lundeen. She’s a volunteer firefighter/EMT for my husband Chief Ray Jones at Central Cass County Fire Department.
It is entitled Running From God. You can listen to the podcast by clicking here.
I’ve been sending out “Just Ask” letters to women’s ministry leaders at local churches to speak at their women’s events (conferences, retreats, workshops, etc.). I meet with one pastor tomorrow at his church to see it and chat with him further about this. I’m very excited about this. If you need a dynamic, Biblical speaker for your women’s event, or you know someone who is, please contact me here.
I just graduated from national speaker/author Robyn Dykstra’s Christian Speakers Bootcamp and I worked with a book award-winning speech coach (Lisa Betz) during the 8-week training, on my signature speaking presentation to improve and polish it (it’s on the fairy tale Cinderella – Your big dream can come true!).
I love speaking and encouraging God’s precious daughters and would love to premiere this unique, powerful presentation to your audience. If your dream has been shattered or if it hasn’t come true yet (or only partly true), this talk is for you! I have luggage, will travel – I love to fly! I also have a car and can drive if it’s within a reasonable distance.
My new video is up. It’s about Cinderella’s viewpoint from the castle window after she marries the handsome Prince – the brilliant, inspired idea I got from my Canadian friend Doreen Penner.
You can watch it here.
Finally, I have a fast trip out of state coming up soon. More details on that later. Are you going on a vacation or staycation this summer? Please leave your comments below.