{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Radio Chatskill","title":"As Need Grows, A Single Bite Expands Efforts to Feed Sullivan County Families","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":517,"description":"Audrey Garro, executive director of A Single Bite, has a clear mission: if you have a child in your household and you need food, they are here to help. What began as a grassroots response to food insecurity in Sullivan County has grown into a vital service now providing nearly 1,000 meals a week—a number driven by increasing financial hardship, rising food prices, and changing housing conditions.“We're seeing more families where someone has lost a job, lost hours, or even moved into housing without cooking facilities,” said Garro during a recent interview on Radio Chatskill. “It's very difficult for families to ask for help, but the cost of living is just out of reach for many now.”The organization delivers fresh, healthy, home-cooked meals directly to families with children. Meals include nutritious proteins, vegetables, and carbohydrates, all packed and delivered by a small team and an “army of volunteers.”But with the dramatic rise in need has come a set of new challenges—chief among them, keeping up with demand amid rising food costs and limited funding.“We’ll cook all day, but if the food doesn’t get to people where they need it, it doesn’t matter,” Garro said. “Transportation is a huge issue in rural communities. We learned that during COVID, and it’s still true today.”Garro noted that while A Single Bite receives generous seasonal donations—particularly from local farmers and markets—protein remains one of the most expensive and essential components of their meals. And as summer draws to a close, food donations typically dwindle, forcing the organization to rely more heavily on purchased ingredients.“We budget and we do the best we can, just like a family does,” she said. “But we won’t skimp. We’ll continue to provide protein, healthy carbs, and vegetables. 52 weeks a year.”With little government support, the organization relies heavily on community donations and local partnerships to continue its mission. One such partnership takes center stage this...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/q7XXsnSXT_u4mZLCn3chUorwDmUD_kWiB272D6emB18/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80N2Uy/OGY5MWUwZThkYTEw/NDVkZGM2ZGZkZDIw/ZjliOS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}