Friendship Bakery cooks up Hanukkah treats and personal success for adults with disabilities

(MILWAUKEE) - It’s tradition for Jewish families the world over to enjoy sweats and cookies during the eight days of Hanukkah. It doesn’t much matter what kind, so long as it’s kosher of course. The idea is to celebrate freedom and enjoy the sweetness of life. It’s also the aim of the Friendship Circle of Wisconsin and the Friendship Bakery.

More than just another bakery filling the bellies of Milwaukee-area revelers, the Friendship Bakery aims to empower individuals with special needs by challenging them to take on the responsibilities of creating and baking delicious holiday treats.

The bakery program is focused on adults. The end-goal is to help them have the skills to get hired by businesses in the Milwaukee-area.

"It doesn't matter how you do it, you just do it and don't rush," says Neal Heller, a baker who’s skills developed at the Friendship Bakery have helped him earn a job at a local Metro Market.

Rabbi Levi Stein is the director of Friendship Circle of Wisconsin. He says Heller’s story is typical of the success he’s seen since opening the bakery in 2017.

Friendship Bakery is part of the non-profit organization, The Friendship Circle of Wisconsin, a division of Lubavitch of Wisconsin.

You can help support the program, and order from Friendship Bakery by clicking here.