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Since Lil’ Gen’s doughnut hut began selling hot mini doughnuts in Icy Straight Point, Alaska, in May 2016, it has become a point of interest among the 500,000 visitors coming from cruise ships each year.
Nearly a decade later, the doughnut hut boasts long lines, a 4.7 Yelp rating, and a global following, with a number of blog posts and YouTube vlogs about the tasty destination, Hoonah Corps Officer Captain Jeff Josephson said.
The hut also provides an opportunity to talk about The Salvation Army’s ministry—and extend it to travelers.
“We are able to pray for and with many of the tourists,” Josephson said. “It is an ongoing PR opportunity for The Salvation Army.”
Lil’ Gen’s is a Salvation Army-run social enterprise that raises funds to meet needs in the small community of Hoonah, which had a population of 948 people in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The doughnut hut operates concurrently with the cruise ship season, which runs roughly from May through September.
Lil’ Gen’s built off the idea of General’s Doughnuts, which opened in November 2015 in the town of Hoonah by then Hoonah Corps Officers Majors Kevin and Tina Bottjen. The Bottjens saw another opportunity, and opened Lil’ Gen’s doughnut hut at Icy Straight Point to sell doughnuts to the visitors arriving on the more than 75 cruise ships that come during the season.
In 2019, Captains Jeff and Michelle Josephson were appointed to the post and continued serving up The Salvation Army’s signature dessert—many credit the Army with popularizing the doughnut after “Donut Lassies” served the treats to troops to boost morale during World War 1.
Unlike many Salvation Army locations that bring in funds for ministry through Red Kettles at Christmastime, Hoonah’s winter climate and small population size during the Christmas season make it impossible.
“We are able to pray for and with many of the tourists. It is an ongoing PR opportunity for The Salvation Army.”
Captain Jeff Josephson
“[Lil’ Gen’s] is our kettle season,” Josephson said, noting the enterprise nets roughly $340,000 a season. “We have no other source of revenue-generating opportunities on the island.”
That was exactly what Major Kevin Bottjen said led to the entrepreneurial scheme all those years ago.
“You think about the kettle as being creative when they started doing it originally, and it was because the guy needed to find a way to raise funds to help people and the kettle worked for him. That’s pretty much what we did here,” Bottjen said. “The results can be pretty, pretty powerful if you are creative and stretch out and try new things.”
To earn the much-needed funds, the Josephsons and three part-time employees sell thousands of mini doughnuts throughout the season, which run $10 a dozen, with a discount offered to those who have served in the military.
Over the years, the menu has grown to include 37 flavors, including cinnamon, huckleberry, creamsicle and birthday cake. A small selection of beverages—Coke, coffee, hot cocoa and water—is also available for purchase.
And the reviews are good.
“The best doughnuts,” said Karin C. from Alhambra, California. “My friend and I came here for a second batch after inhaling the first bag in minutes. We tried three flavors but apple cider is the best. You need this.”
For Val G. from Hacienda Heights, California, the “huge” lines were worth the wait.
“I got six powdered sugar and six salted caramel [and] made some new friends when a couple of young brothers were filming and asked what I had. I offered them a taste and we got to talking. We were both on the same deck of the Carnival cruise line and we lived less than 10 miles away from each other,” he said. “Little doughnuts make new friends.”
One of Josephson’s favorite stories from his years of working at the doughnut hut comes from sharing the doughnuts with the crews working on the ships.
“They sing to us and put on shows at the Hut,” he said. “They also tell everyone about us.”
Do Good:
- You’ve probably seen the red kettles and thrift stores, and while we’re rightfully well known for both…The Salvation Army is so much more than red kettles and thrift stores. So who are we? What do we do? Where? Right this way for Salvation Army 101.
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