I am the owner of Sweet Soul Bakery, a plant based, vegan, gluten-free bakery located in St. James, NY. In 2018, I became a member of the Long Island Food Council. Since that time, I have made countless connections with fellow business owners and professionals. I have received thousands of dollars in grants to aid in the growth of my business that I would never have known about had it not been for LIFC. Unlike many professional networking groups, there is no pressure to participant in any way that you don’t want to. The meeting are both social and educational. The organization has been an invaluable resource while I have grown my business. Lastly, the people who run the organization Michael and Elise Tucker, as well as, Dolores Oesterle are amazingly supportive and eager to help. If you are in the food industry in any capacity, I highly recommend that you check LIFC.