The smell hits you first – the warm, inviting aroma of fresh-baked dough wafting through the small storefront on Gerrard Street East. Inside Do Good Donuts, Erin Balfour gently guides an employee through the precise timing needed for their signature maple-glazed creation.
“The secret is patience,” she says with a smile. “That’s something we’ve learned in more ways than one.”
What began as a modest community initiative in 2019 has blossomed into one of Toronto’s East End success stories. Do Good Donuts isn’t just serving up delectable treats – they’re providing meaningful employment opportunities for young adults with developmental disabilities in a neighborhood that’s embraced their mission wholeheartedly.
“We never expected this level of community support,” Balfour tells me, watching as her team methodically prepares the day’s offerings. “From our neighbours who stop in weekly to the East End Food Hub that helped us scale operations, this journey shows what’s possible when a community rallies behind an idea.”
The shop now employs seven part-time staff, each developing transferable skills that extend far beyond the kitchen. For 23-year-old Marcos Delgado, who’s been with Do Good Donuts since its inception, the experience has been transformative.
“Before this, I couldn’t find work anywhere,” Delgado explains while expertly finishing a batch of cinnamon sugar donuts. “Now I’m saving for college courses. And I can make a pretty amazing donut,” he adds with deserved pride.
Their business model caught the attention of the East End Food Hub, which provided crucial operational support during the pandemic when many similar ventures folded. The Hub’s director, Samantha Wong, recognized something special in their approach.
“What Do Good Donuts accomplished isn’t just about inclusive employment – though that’s vital,” Wong says. “They’ve created a sustainable enterprise that contributes meaningfully to our local economy while addressing social barriers.”
Recent data from the Ontario Disability Employment Network shows why initiatives like this matter. Approximately 70 percent of working-age adults with developmental disabilities remain unemployed despite willingness and ability to work. The economic impact is substantial, with estimates suggesting this untapped workforce represents over $7.7 billion in potential economic activity provincially.
City Councillor Brad Bradford, who represents Beaches-East York, has become a vocal supporter after witnessing their impact firsthand. “When we talk about community building, this is exactly what we mean,” Bradford noted during a recent council meeting where the enterprise was recognized for its contributions to local economic development.
The pandemic nearly derailed everything. When COVID-19 restrictions hit in 2020, Do Good Donuts faced the same existential threat as countless other small businesses. Their pivot to delivery service, supported by neighbourhood volunteers who helped coordinate logistics, kept them afloat during those uncertain months.
“There were weeks we weren’t sure we’d make it,” Balfour confesses. “Then suddenly our neighbours were organizing delivery routes, local businesses were placing bulk orders for their staff. The East End showed up for us in ways I still find hard to believe.”
The shop’s success has inspired similar initiatives across Toronto. According to Social Enterprise Toronto, the number of businesses employing inclusive hiring practices has increased 32% since 2020, with particular growth in the city’s east end neighbourhoods.
For the employees, however, it’s about more than statistics. Jamie Chen, who joined the team last year, sums it up while carefully packaging a special order: “I’ve made friends here. Real friends. And customers know my name. That didn’t happen at other places I tried to work.”
The company recently expanded their offerings through a partnership with local coffee roaster Birch Cliff Blend, creating a complete café experience that’s increased customer dwell time and average purchases by nearly 40%, according to their quarterly reports.
Parents of team members have noticed profound changes beyond workplace skills. Anita Delgado, Marcos’ mother, shares that the ripple effects extend throughout their lives. “His confidence has completely transformed. He’s more independent on transit, handling his finances, making plans with coworkers. The growth goes far beyond just having a job.”
The East End Food Hub’s incubator program provided crucial business development mentorship that helped Balfour refine their financial model. “We wanted to create something sustainable, not dependent on grants or donations,” she explains. “The mentorship helped us build systems that ensure we can provide stable employment for years to come.”
Those systems are working. Do Good Donuts recently announced plans to open a second location in Scarborough next spring, expanding their impact to another Toronto community where employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities remain scarce.
Toronto’s Social Development Strategy report highlighted their model as exemplary of the “community economic development framework” the city hopes to foster in neighbourhoods across Toronto, particularly in post-pandemic recovery efforts.
As our conversation concludes, the afternoon rush begins – a mix of regular customers greeting staff by name and curious newcomers drawn in by the shop’s growing reputation. What’s most striking isn’t just the quality of their products, but the genuine workplace culture that’s immediately apparent.
“The donuts are honestly incredible,” says regular customer Priya Sharma, who visits weekly with her daughter. “But we come because it feels good to support a place that’s making a real difference. Plus, my daughter loves that Marcos always remembers her favourite is chocolate glaze with sprinkles.”
As Toronto’s East End continues evolving, Do Good Donuts represents something increasingly precious – a business with deep community roots that creates meaningful opportunities while delivering a product people genuinely love. It’s a recipe for success that’s proving as appealing as their delicious offerings.
“We’re just getting started,” Balfour says, watching her team confidently handle the afternoon rush. “The East End showed us what’s possible when a community believes in something. Now we want to pay that forward.”
