24 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • APRIL 2020
PRESS BUSINESS
LUV MICHAEL
GRANOLA FOR GOOD
BY ROB PELEAZ
When Dr. Lisa Liberatore’s son Michael
turned 17, she and her husband shared
their concerns over his career options,
since their child was diagnosed as having
autism spectrum disorder.
After cultivating his passion for culinary
exploration, the couple founded
the nonprofit Luv Michael, which
employs more than a dozen Long Islanders
with special needs and helps
them achieve their aspirations in the
kitchen — all by making granola.
“We felt that it was important to look
at what his skillset was,” Liberatore
says. “He would always love to cut up
vegetables in the kitchen of the church
we volunteer at. That was basically the
beginning.”
With help from a few of her friends,
knowing the struggles that
people with autism have in
finding a job, Liberatore and
her husband set out to create a
company to help their son and
others in similar situations.
Employees work three days a
week, and opportunities for
internships are available for
local teenagers.
“A lot of the jobs that are out
there for people with autism
and other special needs are
way below that person’s true
intelligence level,” Liberatore
says. “With Luv Michael, the
company is able to provide a job where
people are not only accepted, but also
appropriately challenged.”
Luv Michael is a nonprofit kitchen staffed by people
with special needs.
The dozen employees are called
“granologists” for the signature granola
they create. Liberatore touts the
company’s product, assuring that their
granola should not be purchased out of
sympathy.
“We want people to know we are a legitimate
company with a delicious product
available for purchase,” Liberatore
says. “We have a full commercial
kitchen in Tribeca
that gives us an opportunity
to practice retail sales.”
She notes that she wanted
the employees to be able
to create a product within
their level of expertise
and that they could enjoy
tasting.
“We have the best intentions,
but I want our employees to
be as safe and independent
as possible while working,”
she says. “Also, the digestive
tracts for many people with autism
are incredibly sensitive, and require a
specialized diet.”
To learn more about Luv Michael, visit
luvmichael.com All proceeds go to
supporting the organization’s mission.
CORONAVIRUS DONATION REQUESTS
PANDEMIC HELP SOUGHT
LONG ISLAND AQUARIUM
The aquarium is soliciting donations
via GoFundMe with the goal of raising
$25,000 to help with the approximately
$18,000 per week expenses for animal
care. The aquarium is currently
closed to the public per the New York
state mandate and the attempt to slow
the spread of the illness, eliminating
approximately 60,000 visitors and incoming
revenue that normally funds
caring for the animals. gf.me/u/xrxtsd
NASSAU COUNTY
The county encourages donations of the
following medical supplies in unopened
boxes/packages: N95 Surgical Masks in
unopened container/boxes, eye protection
such as goggles and face shields,
Nitrile Gloves in unopened boxes that
have not expired, disposable medical
gowns (paper, which are fluid resistant,
or plastic), shoe covers/booties, No-
Touch thermometers, thermometer
probe covers, HEPA filters for ventilators/
anesthesia machines, antibacterial
and disinfecting wipes – typically alcohol
or bleach based, disinfecting wipes
(Clorox/Lysol), and hand sanitizer. Nassau
County Public Safety Parking Lot,
Field 3, Park Blvd., Eisenhower Park. 9
a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday.
STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY
Stony Brook University will be collecting
donations of personal protective
equipment (PPE) which will be given
to Stony Brook University Hospital.
The university is currently accepting
PPE donations that include face shields,
N95 3M 1860 masks, protective eyewear,
goggles, disinfectant wipes, hand
sanitizer and other supplies required
for staff safety. The PPE will then be
distributed to medical personnel to
use while interacting with possible
person under investigation and known
COVID-19 patients. To donate, contact
Joan Dickinson at
Joan.Dickinson@
stonybrook.edu or
631-219-0603.
SUFFOLK
COUNTY
The County is
looking to solicit
donations of N95
masks, ear loop face
masks, gowns, and
gloves from the construction
industry,
Habitat for Humanity of
Suffolk donated masks
to Stony Brook University
Hospital.
building trades, and
others in organized labor. These are
typical supplies that would ordinarily
be used on work sites. Additionally, the
county is looking to solicit donations of
ear loop masks and gloves from the personal
service industry. Suffolk County
Fire Academy, 102 East Ave., Yaphank;
Suffolk DPD Yard, 97 Crooked Hill
Rd., Commack; 150 OldRiverhead Rd.,
Westhampton. 10 a.m.-2
p.m. weekdays.
LIFE’S WORC
This nonprofit is in desperate
need of personal
protective equipment
and other supplies for
its residential homes
that support people with
intellectual disabilities
and autism. Requested
items included N95 masks,
surgical masks, surgical
gowns, surgical/Nitrile
gloves, toilet paper, hand sanitizer,
disinfecting spray, disinfecting wipes,
and paper towels Email PurchaseRequisition@
lifesworc.org
Editor’s note: Life’sWORC was founded
by Victoria Schneps-Yunis, founder of
Schneps Media, the parent company of
the Long Island Press.
/stonybrook.edu
/luvmichael.com
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
/lifesworc.org
