Where Donuts Do Good: A Salvation Army-Run Summer Tradition That Funds Food All Winter

At a remote cruise stop in Hoonah, Alaska, The Salvation Army runs a small donut hut that turns summer visitors into year-round support, helping fund food assistance and local ministry in a community where the “off-season” is long. 

A small stand and a long line on the edge of the Inside Passage

When travelers step off a ship at Icy Strait Point near Hoonah, Alaska, one recommendation comes up again and again: warm mini-doughnuts.

Operated by The Salvation Army, the small stand delivers more than a seasonal treat. In 2025, profits helped fund $130,000 worth of food for the local community - an unusually direct link between a purchase at the port and practical support for neighbors in need.

All summer long, the shop makes more than 1,200 fresh, warm mini-doughnuts every hour. They are a simple welcome on days that still carry a chill this close to the Arctic. Over the years, the menu has grown to include 37 flavors, including cinnamon, huckleberry, creamsicle and birthday cake.

Why a donut hut matters in Hoonah

Lil’ Gen’s Mini-Doughnuts is a The Salvation Army-run social enterprise designed for a place with unique geography and economics. Hoonah is a small island community, and the cruise season concentrates opportunity into a narrow window each year.

For Captain Jeff Josephson, the local Corps Officer, the donut hut is a primary way the local The Salvation Army raises funds for ministry and service. Captain Jeff Josephson describes the hut as their equivalent of a traditional fundraising season - critical in a location where other revenue-generating options are limited.

Since the hut began operating in May 2016, it has become a “don’t miss” destination for travelers, serving cruise visitors across the season while channeling proceeds back into local needs.

From a “why not?” idea to a community-supporting enterprise

The concept started with local Salvation Army leadership looking for a practical, sustainable way to fund service in a remote setting.

The shop popped up at the Icy Strait Point docks in May 2016, running during the cruise season from May through September.

What the donuts help make possible

Because the donut hut is locally run and locally purposed, the impact shows up in practical ways - food support, community programs, and sustained ministry through the long winter season.

In the past, proceeds helped send children from the Hoonah Corps to camp - something that had not been feasible in years - because of significant travel distances and costs. In 2025, profits funded $130,000 worth of food for the local community.

A living link to the origin of National Donut Day

National Donut Day, this year on Friday, June 5, 2026, began with The Salvation Army and is rooted in service to military members. The tradition was started by The Salvation Army in 1938 to honor the “donut lassies,” who served treats and supported soldiers during World War I.

The Salvation Army in Alaska has also documented how the commemoration continues today, linking Donut Day to gratitude and practical support for those serving on the front lines, including first responders and veterans.

In that context, Lil’ Gen’s Mini-Doughnuts stands out as a modern expression of the same idea: meet a moment with something simple, useful, and human - then translate that generosity into year-round help.

Ahead of June 5: a sweet stop that does real work

If you’re celebrating National Donut Day on June 5, you’ll see plenty of free donuts and deals across the country. But The Salvation Army story goes deeper than a single day.

In Hoonah, The Salvation Army has built a small, seasonal donut hut into a practical engine for service- turning summer foot traffic into food support and ministry that lasts long after the ships leave.

That’s the invitation of National Donut Day: enjoy something simple - and remember the kind of care it can carry. 

• Give: Support The Salvation Army’s work in your community
• Learn: Read more about National Donut Day’s Salvation Army roots and why it began.
• Share: Use National Donut Day as a prompt to thank a veteran or first responder - and connect them to support if they need it.