Since 2016, South Fork Bakery has created meaningful employment opportunities for adults with special needs through its Amagansett bakery. What began as a small operation led by speech and language therapist Shirley Ruch has grown into a thriving nonprofit where employees learn valuable skills and experience the pride that comes with having a job.
Following its first-ever fundraiser, held on November 12 at Tutto il Giorno in Sag Harbor, South Fork Bakery announced plans to develop a full training and employment placement program for adults with special needs throughout Suffolk County. The expansion builds on the bakery’s success and aims to prepare participants for jobs across a variety of industries, including food service, sales, hospitality, janitorial, and clerical roles.
Currently operating out of the First Presbyterian Church of Amagansett’s Scoville Hall, the bakery employs 16 individuals in full- and part-time positions. The new program will use the bakery as a training ground before placing participants into long-term community roles, allowing more individuals to gain independence and greater visibility within the local workforce.
The November event, Cocktails with a Cause, marked a milestone moment for the bakery as it raises funds to support this next phase of growth. With the expansion into job training and placement, South Fork Bakery continues to build an inclusive future where meaningful work empowers individuals and strengthens the community.
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