“I was the Water Man and later became the Doughnut Man. I started selling drugs when I was 18. I always knew selling drugs wasn’t right, but I liked the fast income. I was taught the game from my family members from where I come from in Detroit. I tried to escape and run away and came here. I started selling water on April 28, 2009. I was arrested two days later. Then I got my license. The last time I was locked up and got out of jail, I started selling doughnuts and turned my life around.
It was a hard transformation from selling drugs because I did it for so many years. But it was a relief when I stopped and straightened out my life. I was a loner and realized I had to love myself and enjoy life.
I wake up every morning and do my devotion and pray. Then I pick up the doughnuts from Krispy Kreme and go to my spot on Schillinger and Airport Road. When I don’t sell them all, I give them to people who need them. I support cancer awareness, homeless people, and do outreach deliveries from the heart. I will give someone going through a tough time a doughnut and tell them to have a nice day. I have given doughnuts to kids on school buses as they drive by.
I love meeting good people out here and treating them like they are my own. I get to know the people, their kids, and their dogs. I want to be an impact and more than just a man selling doughnuts. I pray for the ones who are lost and broken. Sometimes I have coupons for doughnut specials. I know people are going through stress and hard times and I try to look out for them.
There are hard times selling doughnuts. The price has gone up over the years. I charge $8 a dozen, but people still want them for $5. This is my business and how I survive. I have been banned from selling all over the city. I am praying I don’t get banned where I am now. Sometimes people belittle you. Sometimes I have a problem getting doughnuts hot and fresh at Krispy Kreme. I care about giving the best doughnuts to my customers and it is a problem when they sell them to me cold. I have also been robbed four times selling doughnuts and water. I would like to set up a tent and block the sun and protect the doughnuts, but they would shut me down. I just keep grinding and put it all in God’s hands. He gets me through the storms.
I also do music and rap a little bit. I write music and sell my album out there. The dream is to have my own ice cream truck. I have the name, logo, and signature ice cream in my head. It is just getting the capital to do it. That will come in God’s time.”
Doughnut Man is the corner 312 Schillinger Road and Airport seven days a week. Today is his birthday and he will be there from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
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