Food Pantry Demand Soars by 30% in Sullivan County Amid Job Losses, Housing Crunch

For some families, putting healthy food on the table has never felt more challenging. Earlier this month, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said the Trump administration’s decision to cut $1 billion in federal funding allocated for food banks to purchase food for schools and child care centers will hurt struggling New Yorkers.Demand for emergency food is also up by 30%, according to local food pantry providers in Sullivan County. But what’s behind this jump?Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Audrey Garro, Executive Director of A Single Bit, a nonprofit providing free, nutritious meals in the Catskills region. Garro broke down what’s driving the sharp increase in demand.