Historic Doughnut Girls Honored

Over 90 years ago a group of women from The Salvation Army went to care for American soldiers in France during World War I. These inventive women used the little resources they had to bring some hope to the frontlines. Sugar, flour, eggs, baking soda and powdered sugar were in their limited supply of goods. Not the right ingredients needed to create a feast, but rather a treat and gesture of kindness. They made doughnuts with these ingredients and passed them out with coffee among the soldiers, who started calling them the Doughnut Girls. The name stuck.

The service of these women was remembered at the Indiana War Memorial Tuesday, May 11 – not for serving doughnuts or hot coffee – but for their goodwill. The Doughnut Girls were honored by an exhibit and guest speakers, as part of National Salvation Army Week. 

Among the guest speakers were Divisional Commander of the Indiana Salvation Army Major Richard Amick, Executive Director of the Indiana War Memorial Brigadier General J. Stewart Goodwin and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard. The exhibit included the tools used to create the doughnuts in the rough war conditions. Also in the exhibit is a manikin dressed in the traditional gear of the Doughnut Girls that illustrated a look of long ago that symbolized compassion and home for many soldiers.

General Goodwin spoke to attendees at the dedication explaining that the story of the Doughnut Girls was one that Hoosiers needed to know, saying “I give you my pledge that we will help you tell that story.”

The legacy of the Doughnut Girls can be traced to Indiana. Helen Purviance was an Ensign of The Salvation Army and a Hoosier among the first to be sent to France. As the well-known quote from Ensign Purviance goes, “I was literally on my knees when those first doughnuts were fried. There was also a prayer in my heart that somehow this would do more for those who ate the doughnuts than satisfying a physical hunger.”

Another Hoosier Doughnut Girl was Isabella Blomgren. After returning home from war, Isabella married Nils Bonger and decided to continue serving with The Salvation Army as an officer.

Major Lynneta Poff, officer of the Fort Wayne, Indiana Corps, knew Isabella well. Major Poff vaguely remembers the stories Isabella told her as a child of making doughnuts for soldiers in France. What Major Poff does remember are the stories of how the Bonger officers helped her dad when his own father passed away in the 1940s. Because of the Bonger officers’ influence in her father’s life, “he went down the right path,” says Major Poff. It’s because of the Bonger officers that Major Poff accredits the reason she became a Salvation Army officer herself.

Major Poff’s father, retired Salvation Army service extension employee Glenwood Davis, calls the Bonger officers his “family unrelated.” Davis is an only child and was very close to the Bonger’s son growing up – also an only child. They were like brothers.

Two of Isabella’s grandchildren attended the dedication – Ron Bonger and sister Connie Stunkel. “It certainly brought back memories of grandma,” Ron Bonger said. Isabella’s grandchildren never knew how much of an impact she had on so many soldiers. As a child Stunkel says she “never really realized what they (the Doughnut Girls) went through.”

General Goodwin has decided to make the Doughnut Girls Exhibit permanent saying “it’s a tremendous opportunity to tell the story of both sides.” The story of a Hoosier and the story of The Salvation Army.

Check out this video about the Indiana Doughnut Girls

Check out photos of the exhibit dedication

It’s National Salvation Army Week

We’ve got some great events planned to help get Indy involved in “doing the most good”. We’ll be out and about this week and we hope you’ll join us:

Monday, May 10 – Dine to Donate at BD’s Mongolian Grill (3838 E. 82nd Street, Castleton) $15 for all-you-can-eat stir-fry, soup and salad. Click here for more info.

Tuesday, May 11 – WWI Salvation Army Doughnut Girls exhibit dedication, Indiana War Memorial (431 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis)

Thursday, May 13 – Dine to Donate at Max & Erma’s (5899 E. 86th Street, Castleton) 4-10pm. 20% of dine-in and carry out proceeds will benefit The Salvation Army. Don’t forget to take the flyer with you (we only get credit for your meal if you present the flyer).

Friday, May 14 – Eat Outside the Box (Veteran’s Memorial Plaza, 550 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis) 10am-2pm. Just $5 for a hot dog or hamburger, chips and a drink! [Thanks to our partners for donating lunch: All-American Picnic Company for the 'dogs and burgers, GFS for the chips, Noodles and Company for the water and Ricker's for the soft drinks] Come enjoy lunch and throw a game of cornhole for a great cause – helping Indy’s homeless and abused moms and kids.

It’s not too late  – if you’re interested in planning an event or getting the folks at the office involved, give Kristen a call at 224-1019.