Tom Nardacci, Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, recently brought much-needed attention to the reality of food insecurity in our region. With Sullivan County’s food insecurity rate now standing at 14 percent—the highest in the Hudson Valley—the numbers are stark. But what the numbers and the words “food insecurity” don’t fully capture is the physical and emotional toll this crisis takes on real people—especially children—every single day.

Food insecurity refers to the lack of reliable access to sufficient food to lead an active and healthy life. It is not always visible. It doesn’t always look like an empty plate. Sometimes it’s a child struggling to focus in school because their stomach is growling. Sometimes it’s a parent stretching a can of soup over three meals or skipping dinner altogether so their kids can eat.

Indeed, food insecurity doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s tied to low wages, unreliable transportation, and widening health disparities. And it doesn’t just impact the body—it affects the mind and spirit. Children who don’t get enough nutritious food are more likely to struggle with developmental delays, anxiety, and chronic illness. Adults are more likely to experience depression, missed work, and preventable medical crises. Hunger wears people down—quietly, steadily, and unjustly.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, A Single Bite has stepped in where the safety net frays. We have prepared and delivered over 200,000 healthy meals to food-insecure families in Sullivan County—60 percent of those meals go to children, some of whom live in temporary housing at local motels. These are not just numbers; they represent lives touched, days made a little easier, and futures made a little brighter.

Sadly, the need is only growing. Since last January, meal requests at A Single Bite have increased by 30 percent. This spike is alarming—and deeply telling. Families are not just facing higher grocery bills; they’re confronting a perfect storm of economic instability, housing insecurity, and now, the potential rollback of critical lifelines like SNAP and Medicare. 

If the loss of federal benefits becomes a reality, the consequences will be swift and severe. For many families in Sullivan County, there’s simply no cushion to absorb that kind of blow. Non-profits like A Single Bite will continue to do everything we can—but we can’t do it alone.

This is not just a food issue. It’s a health issue. An education issue. An economic issue. And it’s one that demands not only compassion, but action—from policymakers, neighbors, and all who believe that no one in our community should go hungry.

Let’s not just lay bare the statistics. Let’s confront the human cost—and commit ourselves to a future where every person in Sullivan County has what they need to thrive.

Audrey Garro is the Executive Director of A Single Bite, which has a PO Box 1015 located at 92 Commerce Drive in Liberty. Her office phone number is 845.482.1030 ext. 1 or write to the Executive Director at audrey@asinglebite.org.