GUINNESS RECORD: “SERBS FOR SERBS” MAKE 100,000 DOUGHNUTS IN 24 HOURS

“Let’s make 100,000 doughnuts for the Easter campaign.” “What do you mean – 100,000 doughnuts?! Have you ever made even one?” “No, so what?” Some of the most remarkable things begin with bold and seemingly impossible ideas. This exact conversation recently took place between two members of the Serbs for Serbs, sparking what has grown into their largest Easter initiative yet – “Doughnuts from the Block.”

PHOTO: Srbi za Srbe

More than 1,000 volunteers from the organization managed to produce over 100,000 doughnuts in less than 24 hours. The doughnuts were distributed in front of more than 100 Orthodox churches across Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Republika Srpska), and Montenegro during the holidays of Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday. Funds raised through the campaign are intended to support families in Kosovo and Metohija, the organization announced.

In Belgrade, the initiative was carried out in cooperation with the Religious Charitable Organization of the Archdiocese of Belgrade-Karlovci, with part of the funds directed to its church kitchen.

The campaign was implemented with the support of the Serbian Orthodox Church and with the blessing of Patriarch Porfirije.

FROM A CRAZY IDEA TO REALITY

The largest number of doughnuts—an astonishing 60,000—was made during a massive volunteer effort in a hall in New Belgrade, where more than 500 people worked tirelessly for 24 hours straight.

“It was an incredible experience, full of obstacles and challenges that had to be solved on the go. Some volunteers didn’t sleep a single minute, but they say it was worth it and that they will remember this action for the rest of their lives,” the organization stated.

During the process, organizers began to wonder whether a Guinness World Record existed for the number of doughnuts made in such a short time.

“We realized that such a record does exist, and from what we could find, it is far below the goal we had set,” one of the initiators said.

The campaign also had a strong response in Republika Srpska, where it was held at more than 60 locations, as well as in numerous cities across Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. With the initiative still ongoing, the total number of locations is expected to exceed 200.

The humanitarian organization Serbs for Serbs continues to set new records each year in both the number of families helped and the funds raised. Over the past 20 years, the organization has supported more than 3,800 families across the Balkans and collected €23 million in donations.