The Grace and Peace Lutheran Church have passed the torch of the donut burger onto the Evansville African American Museum (EAAM). On Saturday, September 5^th, the EAAM had its first run with the food truck at Bayard Park on Family Day. From noon to 8:00 PM, the event featured music, games, and a welcoming atmosphere.

But what is a “donut burger”? Who are the EAAM? Why did the church donate the food truck to them? What is Family Day? I had the chance to speak with Kori E. Miller and some other vendors at the event to learn more.

Kori is the Executive Director of the EAAM ­­­­­— In his words, the museum was made to preserve African American culture both in and outside of Evansville. They weren’t always a museum, though. Before that, the entire area was a PWA program; an organization and community with the goal of getting people back to work. The area, named Lincoln Gardens, was located within Baptisttown and lasted from 1938 to 1997. It was a strong black community in its time, offering jobs and homes to hundreds. The area fell into despair around the late 90s, but Sandra Matthews saved the museum. The Housing Authority was about to tear it down until Matthews bought it from them for $1. Sandra had a vision for the place and, just 10 years later, the museum officially opened.

Alternatively known as the Luther burger, the donut burger’s concept is very much told through its name. It has all the similarities to a “classic” burger, except the bun is replaced with a donut. Within Evansville, the donut burger is a huge staple at the Fall Festival; an annual, week-long event that’s known for its bizarre food. Last year alone, almost 300,000 people showed up to the event. There’s no actual documentation of its origin, but the story goes as such: Down in Georgia, there was a bar named Mulligan’s and one night the owner ran out of buns for his burgers. In a fit of panic, he substituted the buns with glazed donuts.

As to why it’s nicknamed the Luther burger, it’s also solely from rumor. The famous artist, Luther Vandross, allegedly loved the donut-burger combination and frequently visited Mulligan’s. So, the owner of the establishment titled it under his name. Kori explained to me why this was so significant. In his own words, Miller regarded Vandross as one of the best African American soul singers. Additionally, he emphasized just how phenomenal Luther was. Preceding his 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of me induction, he achieved 11 platinum albums in a row! To quote Kori himself, “Some people can sing… Luther can sang.” With his contributing list of achievements, Kori and I agreed that his induction should’ve happened sooner.

Kori was incredibly stoked when they were allowed to run the Luther burger. From his account, he received a call from Rachel Mayes, one of the church officers at the Grace and Peace Lutheran Church. They wanted to donate the food truck, and they felt handing it off to the EAAM would promise more volunteers and longevity. They gladly accepted the offer, as they were aware of the burger’s significance to Evansville.

As mentioned before, the EAAM treated Family Day at Bayard Park as a sort of test run and fundraiser. Donut burgers were nine dollars, and all proceeds went to funding the EAAM. Family Day itself hasn’t occurred in years, the last time the event was held was pre-COVID. According to other vendors and onlookers, the gathering is meant to bring the community together. From promoting several small businesses to performing live music, the day was fun for all ages and walks of life. I got to taste some of the community’s food, and I had a great time getting to know everyone. As for the EAAM, they sold out of all their donut burgers before the end of the day. From speaking with Kori, it seems they have hopes to bring this beloved meal to several future events. The future for them is bright, and the donuts are amazing!