Autism Cooks: A Culinary Evening for a Cause

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Bringing Top Chefs Together to Support Pop.Earth’s Mission at Autism Cooks

On Thursday, April 24th, from 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM, food lovers and advocates for autism awareness will come together at Appliance World in Huntington, NY, for Autism Cooks, an unforgettable evening of gourmet tastings and community spirit. The event, hosted by Pop.Earth, will feature renowned chefs from NYC, NJ, and Long Island, all coming together to support individuals with autism and special needs.

Beyond the incredible food, this event serves as a vital fundraiser for Pop.Earth, a nonprofit organization founded in 2012 by Deb Stone. Pop.Earth is dedicated to providing low-cost to free holistic health and wellness programs for individuals of all ages and abilities. From art and music therapy to yoga, dance, fitness, and cooking, the organization fosters self-expression, teamwork, and growth in a supportive environment.

With the recent opening of Pop.Earth’s permanent space, the Clark Gillies Center for All in Huntington Station, the organization is now able to expand its reach, offering even more individuals access to these life-enhancing programs. Autism Cooks is not just about great food—it’s about empowering individuals, fostering inclusion, and creating meaningful opportunities.

An All-Star Culinary Lineup

Guests at Autism Cooks will have the opportunity to taste creations from some of the most talented chefs in the industry. This year’s event features an impressive roster of participating chefs, including:

• Chef Anthony Bucco – Executive Chef, Landmark Hospitality

• Chef Ben Del Coro – Executive Chef, Fossil Farms

• Chef Ben Kackmarcik – Executive Chef, Fresco by Scotto

• Chef David Buico – Executive Chef/Owner, Mercato Cucina

• Chef James McDevitt – Executive Chef, Prime

• Chef Julian Medina – Executive Chef/Owner, Amarena

• Chef Ralph Scamardella – TAO Group

• More chefs to be announced!

Attendees will enjoy signature dishes from these culinary masters, all while supporting an inspiring cause.

How to Get Involved

There are several ways to support Autism Cooks and Pop.Earth’s mission:

✅ Attend the Event – Experience an incredible night of food and community while making a difference.

✅ Sponsor or Donate – Help expand Pop.Earth’s programs and outreach. (Sponsors are encouraged to contact the organization directly to arrange payment and avoid Eventbrite fees.)

✅ Spread the Word – Share this event with friends, family, and colleagues to increase awareness and participation.

For full event details, visit www.autismcooks.org.

Pop.Earth: Changing Lives Through Holistic Wellness

Since its founding in 2012, Pop.Earth has been a pioneer in holistic wellness for individuals with autism and developmental disorders, offering programs that focus on physical, emotional, and creative well-being. From yoga and cooking classes to social events like the “Holiday Hop with Pop,” museum trips, and sporting events, the organization ensures that no one is turned away due to financial constraints.

Currently serving over 1,000 individuals annually, Pop.Earth continues to expand its reach, bringing accessible and inclusive programming to communities across Long Island through partnerships with organizations like JCC and AHRC.

To learn more about Pop.Earth and its programs, visit www.popearth.org.

Join the Movement & Attend Autism Cooks

Autism Cooks is more than just a night of indulgence—it’s an opportunity to support a mission that changes lives. Whether you attend, donate, or simply spread the word, your involvement makes a real impact in fostering creativity, connection, and inclusivity for individuals with autism and special needs.

Mark your calendar for April 24th, and be part of this extraordinary evening where food, philanthropy, and community come together to make a difference.

For more Events on Long Island, check out our EVENTS CALENDAR!

Melissa Farrell

Melissa Farrell has a mission to support local business by "Going Local." As a local business owner herself, she understands the struggles entrepreneurs face when owning a business and is always trying to find ways to shine a spotlight onto them. Melissa started Going Local Tours & Experiences back in 2020 during the pandemic in hopes to bring people back into local restaurants and shops. She created food tours in Huntington, NY that would stop at 3-4 local businesses and gave the guests the chance to meet the owner and hear the story behind the business. She soon realized how powerful storytelling is when connecting people to local businesses and created options with local store owners as well to bring them onto the tour to share their story. Melissa wanted to expand out of Huntington to be able to support even more local businesses and started creating luxury picnics where she would bring local to you! She would find local businesses in the area of the picnic set up and deliver it to you offering ways to support over 3 local businesses at each picnic. This wasn't enough. She wanted to find a better way to help spread awareness of local businesses and share their stories. Enter Evangeline Knell...a woman with over 30 years of broadcasting experience who somehow convinced Melissa to host a 3 day live stream from the Huntington Fall Festival. She had never been on camera before, but working alongside Evie to create the 3 shows, gave Melissa the confidence to take on the challenge. The 3 shows produced focused on the local vendors, the food trucks and the events that occurred at the festival and had a much larger reach than Melissa could ever of done on her own. They soon realized a business partnership was needed and combined their two businesses, Identity Digital which is a production company and Going Local Tours and Experiences to form Going Local Media. Evie and Melissa even formed their own distribution outlet by creating Going Local TV, a streaming platform like Netflix or YouTube, that is all about local businesses, events and organizations on Long Island. There are over 200 videos including their podcast series "Let's Get Local" "Long Island Business Minds" and "Local Business Spotlight" that help spread awareness of our local businesses and Long Island Professionals. They are always thinking up new ways to support local, including this site, Going Local Long Island is a directory of articles on how to Go Local on Long Island. We appreciate you taking the time to read this and for supporting local! Thank you!

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