NORWALK – On Thursday, Nov. 1 at 11 a.m., Circle of Friends will host the grand opening of its newest project, the Crumb Together Bakery, a unique bakery designed to prepare adults with disabilities to become certified for employment in the bakery industry. The event will be held at the bakery, which is housed at Beth Israel of Westport/Norwalk, 40 King Street in Norwalk. Baked goods will be available for tasting.

“The Crumb Together Bakery is a bakery with a social conscience,” says Freida Hecht, director of Circle of Friends, a group for children and young adults with learning disabilities who reside in Fairfield County. “It trains and employs adults with disabilities to produce delicious kosher baked goods, under the tutelage of skilled and credentialed pastry chefs.”

According to Hecht, the latest data available shows that 75% of adults with disabilities are unemployed. The Crumb Together Bakery, she says, was established to improve that statistic by giving adults with disabilities opportunities for meaningful employment.

And that’s not all.

“The Crumb Together Bakery offers trainees the opportunity to learn skills, build self-esteem, socialize, and be productive members of the community,” she adds.

For more information or to register for the grand opening, visit crumbtogetherbakery.org, or email info@crumbtogetherbakery.org.