South Fork Bakery, located on the Eastern End of Long Island, is a not-for-profit bakery that educates, empowers, and employs local adults with disabilities. Over 65% of working-age adults with disabilities are unemployed in the United States, and South Fork Bakery’s Launch Program combats this statistic by offering job training and placement in local businesses. The delicious baked goods, ranging from their signature chocolate chip cookies to brownies and blondies, are not only a labor of love but also prove that adults with disabilities have the ability to work successfully—it’s only a matter of encouraging employers to be patient and recognize this as well.

This summer, I completed an unpaid internship at South Fork Bakery. I worked in the main room with most of the other employees, rolling and measuring out the dough for the cookies, packaging the baked goods, and assembling boxes for orders and farmers markets. Other employees diligently work in the kitchen to bake the mouth-watering goods. South Fork Bakery has a system of organization that makes working extremely efficient. I worked in a room with other employees, and the process was very structured and organized––most employees have the same daily tasks to complete every day, such as rolling out the dough and packaging baked goods. This routine-oriented system proves to work well for a lot of the employees because it is comforting for them. South Fork Bakery instills a supportive environment with a mutual understanding of everyone's differences and inclusivity through understanding and accommodating individual needs. Everyone is patient with one another and willing to help at any given time.

During my time there, I learned so much and formed many meaningful connections with fellow employees and guardians. During our lunch time I would sit with fellow employees, and we would share interests and stories. I was moved by the close relationships they had; for instance, two of the employees had known each other since elementary school and still considered each other best friends. The two friends would always be of comfort to one another, conversing with and helping each other and embracing when they would leave the Bakery. We often shared humorous anecdotes about their childhood as they had gone to the same school. Not only was there mutual love shared between employees at the Bakery, but there was also a strong sense of community because everyone sympathized with each other and fostered support. The supervisors were especially understanding, patient, and accommodating of workers' individual needs.

The Bakery’s warm and spirited environment is reflected in the deliciousness of its baked goods. South Fork Bakery’s most popular baked item is their chocolate chip cookie, deliciously crispy and composed of the perfect ratio of chocolate to cookie. This take on the American classic is my personal favorite, better than homemade and most other bakeries’ interpretations of the chocolate chip cookie. The cookie has a crispy, toasty golden exterior, giving the cookie a crunch, while the inside is chewy and soft, the chocolate melting in your mouth with every bite. My second favorite South Fork Bakery delight is the Em-Power Bar, which motivates you for your day with healthy oat bran, flax, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower butter, and maple syrup. The texture is soft yet slightly chewy, making it an easy on-the-go power snack. South Fork Bakery offers more delicious options like their brownies, in addition to seasonal options like pies during Thanksgiving and holiday boxes consisting of a variety of the bakery’s goods.

Although October was National Disability Awareness Month, just like South Fork Bakery, we have the responsibility of raising awareness and empowering those with disabilities every month. We should recognize the profound impact of supporting businesses like South Fork Bakery, as their influence on the disabled community and beyond is so critical as they offer meaningful, educational and long lasting employment to the disabled community. By choosing to buy from businesses that prioritize inclusivity, we contribute to a larger movement that breaks down the barriers of prejudice many with disabilities face. Funding South Fork Bakery not only means indulging in their delicious treats but also endorsing a vision where everyone, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to thrive. Just as the bakery aims to uplift adults with disabilities, it is important for us to make a conscious effort to extend and share the bakery’s mission with others, ensuring they continue to provide meaningful employment and inspire change.

While South Fork Bakery does not have its own store, many of their products are sold at stores across Long Island like Goldbergs, Hampton Coffee, and more. By purchasing the bakery’s items from these stores, you are supporting local businesses rooted in supporting worthy causes. You can also purchase the Bakery’s items from their website, not only baked goods but also merchandise that draws visual attention to the Bakery’s mission with water bottles, t-shirts, towels, and more!

Make sure to check out South Fork Bakery’s Website: https://www.southforkbakery.org/ & on Instagram: @southforkbakeryli

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