SULLIVAN COUNTY — Among the challenges families across Sullivan County continue to face, one of the more glaring is food insecurity, as new data suggests nearly one in seven residents may be struggling to maintain consistent access to food.

According to a recent Map the Meal Gap study by Feeding America, 14.8 percent of Sullivan County’s population—roughly 11,380 people—are considered food insecure. That rate is even higher among children, with about one in four, or approximately 3,880 children, facing food insecurity.

Those numbers come as the cost of food and other household expenses, including mortgages, rent, childcare and transportation, continue to put pressure on families trying to make ends meet.

But while food insecurity remains a significant challenge, organizations across the county are working to make sure that more families have a meal on the table.

One prime example is A Single Bite, which provides scratch-made, locally sourced meals to food-insecure families throughout Sullivan County through its Family Meal Program.

Currently, the organization prepares and delivers more than 1,400 meals each week. During a week last month, A Single Bite served 266 households, providing meals to 1,069 people—including 419 children—across eight school districts.

Since the program was founded in 2020, the organization has delivered more than 264,000 meals.

While that milestone is certainly worth celebrating, it also illustrates the continuing need for such services. Executive Director Audrey Garro noted that the numbers demonstrate both the generosity of the community and the growing demand for assistance.

“Those numbers are encouraging because they show our community’s generosity, but they also remind us that food insecurity remains a daily reality for far too many local families,” Garro said.

In fact, A Single Bite reported that demand for its services has increased by more than 55 percent over the past 17 months. The organization noted that many of the families it serves are working households attempting to balance childcare, transportation and housing costs alongside rising food prices.

A Single Bite connects with families through community partners including school counselors, social workers, teachers, nonprofit organizations and county agencies.

The meals provided are health-focused, featuring fresh vegetables, healthy starches and lean proteins while prioritizing locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Meals are packaged according to family size and include bilingual reheating instructions.

That effort would not be possible without schools, donors, foundations, businesses, community organizations, volunteers and, especially, local farmers.

“We’re not simply handing out food, we’re providing nutritious meals that support better health while also supporting local agriculture,” Garro said.

In fact, food insecurity certainly isn’t limited to Sullivan County.

Data from the Regional Food Bank indicates that, among the six Hudson Valley counties it serves, 11.9 percent of residents—nearly 168,000 people—are considered food insecure, with that figure increasing to 16.3 percent among children.

Across its 23-county service area in 2025, the Regional Food Bank distributed more than 53.3 million pounds of food.

“The challenges we are facing as well as our partners in the charitable food industry have faced in recent months, are truly unprecedented,” said Tom Nardacci, CEO of Regional Food Bank.

Federal data also points to changes in food assistance participation. According to data cited by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s office, national enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) decreased from 42.2 million people in May 2025 to 36.6 million in May 2026. In New York, more than 200,000 people have dropped from the rolls, with more than 300,000 households projected to lose some or all assistance by the end of the year.

The drop is due to provisions in the Trump administration’s “Big Beautiful Bill” that change requirements to participate in SNAP, including work requirements. The bill also changes who pays for SNAP, placing the onus on states.

And that could be shifted to Sullivan County—New York is one of only three states where counties pay the full non-federal share of SNAP administrative costs. The New York State Association of Counties estimates that $168 million will now be shifted to county budgets.

For local organizations, the continuing demand highlights that addressing hunger requires more than a single program or organization.

A Single Bite’s Family Meal Program depends on community involvement, with volunteers dedicating countless hours while schools, nonprofits, farms and businesses all lend their support.

And for the families receiving those meals, that support can mean more than simply having something to eat.

One parent receiving meals through the program described them as “breathing room” from the constant worry of being able to put dinner on the table.

While food insecurity remains a reality for thousands of Sullivan County residents, so is the willingness of neighbors, organizations and businesses to step up and lend their helping hand.