A Single Bite is a nonprofit organization in Sullivan County, New York. Founded in 2019 by FosterSupply Hospitality, its mission is to feed and educate children and their families with real, local food. 

A Single Bite is excited to announce three new members that will help it expand its reach in tackling food insecurity among its neighbors.

Since its inception, A Single Bite has delivered over 180,000 meals to food insecure families in Sullivan County while also reaching every 7th grader in the county’s schools to educate them about the difference between real and processed food. Since moving to its new location in Liberty, the organization is now also able to reach children in their school cafeterias with real locally grown food as well. The three new team members will be directly responsible for helping the organization meet these expanded and ambitious goals.

Over the summer, the team welcomed Jonathan Martinez as the new Culinary Director to oversee all day-to-day culinary operations, including its family meal program, which currently delivers over 700 scratch-made meals each week to households in need. Chef Martinez has progressed though a varied and successful culinary and management career, holding positions from Sous-Chef, to Restaurant Manager and Executive Chef. With a trail of awards marking his career path through a full course of restaurants, the Monticello-native spent six years in the army infantry before returning home where he soon found that the culinary world fulfilled his passion and commitment to community.

Partnering closely with Chef Martinez, Lauren Frances has joined the team as Chief Operating Officer. Before joining A Single Bite, Lauren spent eight years at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, most recently as Director of Operations & Events. Prior to relocating upstate, she served as the marketing manager of Baruch Performing Arts Center in Manhattan. As Chief Operating Officer, Lauren oversees all daily operational and administrative functions of the organization, including all the infrastructure that supports the family meal program and the education program.

Jen Betitto has also joined the team to focus on food procurement and distribution as the Real Food Logistics Manager. Jen works to expand opportunities for local farmers and small producers to sell their products not just through A Single Bite’s meal program but also into the school cafeteria’s so that our county’s children can access healthier local food in school.

In her role, Jen will expand opportunities for local farmers and small producers to sell their products not just through A Single Bite’s family meal program, but now also in the school cafeterias. Jen has served as Interim Executive Director & Director of Sales at the LackawaxenFood Hub, in Honesdale, PA, Co-Market Manager for the Sullivan County Farmers’ Markets Association in Callicoon, NY. Jen has worked and lived in Narrowsburg, NY, launching and scaling several successful business initiatives including Natural Contents and Superfine Social.

The organization would also like to take this opportunity to thank its long standing and original Executive Chef, Peter Yurasits, who took a step back from his years long commitment after delivering 175,000 meals to families across Sullivan County.

A Single Bite co-founder, Kirsten Harlow Foster said, “The talent and experience these professionals bring to our organization will help us to meet the increasing demand from families asking for help. In addition, this new and expanded team will allow us to improve the food that they eat in their cafeterias while simultaneously supporting our local farming community. We are committed to our community and to its children, but they are still struggling and so we will continue to be here for them. Now with even more capacity.”

For more information, visit asinglebite.org, email info@singlebite.org or call 845-482-1030.

If you need help or want to help or, to learn more about A Single Bite visit asinglebite.org.