When SweetAbility Bakery opened its doors in Smithtown two weeks ago, founders Sarah and Michael Torres hoped the community would embrace their mission: providing meaningful employment for adults with developmental disabilities. They didn't expect to go viral.
A TikTok video showing employee Danny Reyes boxing up cookies with a giant smile has been viewed over 4 million times. The bakery's phone has been ringing nonstop ever since, with orders coming in from across Long Island and beyond.
"Every person deserves the dignity of work. Watching our team members gain confidence and skills — that's what gets us up in the morning." — Sarah Torres, Co-founder
The bakery employs 12 adults with disabilities, working alongside professional pastry chefs who provide training and support. Employees learn everything from measuring ingredients to customer service, building skills that translate to other workplace environments.
The menu features cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and specialty cakes — all made from scratch using local ingredients. Their signature "Smile Cookies" have become a customer favorite, with a portion of proceeds supporting the training program.
Due to overwhelming demand, SweetAbility is already planning an expansion and hiring additional team members. "We're proving that doing good and doing business aren't mutually exclusive," Michael Torres said. "Our employees are the hardest workers I've ever seen."