Sunflower Bakery is more than just a place to find delicious baked goods; it’s a training center where individuals with learning differences gain real-world experience and hands-on skills in baking and hospitality. Each cookie, cake, and loaf is part of a larger mission: to create meaningful career pathways and promote an inclusive workforce where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Sunflower Bakery was born from the shared vision of Sara Portman Milner, grandmother to senior Yedidya Milner-Gillers, and Laurie Wexler, who recognized a gap in employment opportunities for individuals with learning differences.
With Milner’s background in special education and Wexler’s shared passion for inclusive workforce development, they envisioned a bakery that would not only produce delicious goods but also serve as a training ground for individuals with learning differences. They began working out of Temple Beth Ami’s kitchen in 2009, and quickly saw both a demand for their baked goods and the transformative impact of their training.
Over time, Sunflower Bakery grew to include a production kitchen, training programs and Cafe Sunflower. The production kitchen, located in Rockville, is where trainees learn baking and pastry arts in a professional kitchen, while Café Sunflower, located in North Bethesda, functions as a real café, giving trainees hands-on experience in customer service and hospitality by interacting with customers in a live setting. The goal of these programs is to provide individuals with the skills to be hired in the workforce.
“We never dreamed that this year we would be where we are now,” Milner said. “…We were very strategic and never bit off more than we could chew, and just went one step at a time.”
One must be 18 in order to sign up to be a part of the six month career training programs, but there is no set age limit. There is a special training program specifically for students ages 16 through 21. Junior Ella Longman is one of several students at CESJDS who have helped the students at the teen training sessions. She volunteered once-a-week for twelve weeks.
“I really really enjoyed the experience because I built really nice connections with these kids, and it also felt like I was doing something impactful,” Longman said.
Sunflower Bakery is entirely kosher and pareve. While not all the products are nut-free, they clearly label whether items contain allergens.
Some of my favorite products are their cookies. From snickerdoodle to oatmeal raisin, the options are endless. While they are all delicious, one of my favorites is the Mini Unicorn Cookies, which are $12 for a dozen cookies. They are perfectly soft vanilla sugar cookies topped with a smooth buttercream and a crunchy layer of rainbow sprinkles.
For anyone looking to buy more than one type of cookie, a platter is available, which has an arrangement of different cookies and bars. These range from $35-144, depending on the size and number of baked goods provided.
Whether it is a birthday or an anniversary, Sunflower Bakery has cakes for every occasion. Two of my favorites are the red velvet and Sera Sera Cake, which range from $36-193 depending on the size. The red velvet cake has a rich base and a luscious cream cheese frosting, surrounded by red watercolor and cake crumbs. For indecisive people like me, the Sera Sera Cake is perfect as it is a mix of chocolate and vanilla cake and frosting.
If one is looking for a smaller treat, Sunflower Bakery offers a wide array of cupcakes costing around $12 per dozen. They have chocolate, vanilla, red velvet, Star of David, razzle dazzle, cream-filled and so much more. Like the cookies, platters of these can also be ordered, ranging from $33-80.
For Shabbat, customers can order challah at Sunflower Bakery. My favorite is the Almond Round Cream Challah ($8.50), which tastes like a mix between challah and a delicious almond croissant. But the classic Braided Challah ($6.00) is also a great option, as it is soft, tender and full of flavor.
Orders online can be placed for pick up either at the Bakeshop or Cafe locations. Home delivery is available for a fee or there’s free delivery to one of the weekly community drop-off locations. In order to receive the order, it must be placed before 12 a.m. two days before one’s preferred pick-up or delivery date.
Whether looking for the perfect birthday cake, a dozen cookies to brighten someone’s day or a meaningful volunteer opportunity, Sunflower Bakery offers something truly special. So, every time a customer indulges, they know that they are making a difference with each delicious bite.
