Rising Up Against Summer Hunger
When school meals are on summer break, hunger isn’t.
Neptune, NJ – As the last bell rang on the final day of school, the students of Monmouth and Ocean Counties excitedly began their summer break. But for some families, the summer months aren’t always “fun in the sun.” The stress of finding childcare, coupled with the loss of daily nutritious school-provided meals, can weigh on families emotionally and financially.
With one in nine children in our region regularly facing hunger all year long, the lack of school-provided daily meals can turn especially dire.
To combat this seasonal hunger, we sponsor summer feeding sites as part of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) – a federally-funded program that ensures children from low-income households receive nutritious meals at summer activities. Through this program, children are provided with free nutritious breakfast and lunch each day – helping to ensure they receive the nourishment they need to grow, learn and play.
“It’s no simple task to ease summer hunger,” says Corey Parliament, Fulfill’s Community Health Manager. “Right now, the need is greater than ever, and for families who are missing the support of free school meals, the Summer Food Service Program fills a vital gap.”
With 36 active sites located in Monmouth and Ocean Counties and the support of our culinary team and Karson Food Services, we’re on track to serve 2,000 children this summer.
This partnership helps us divide and conquer: Our culinary team prepares and delivers meals for sites in Ocean County, while Karson Food Services handles preparation and delivery to Monmouth County sites, maximizing our reach and efficiency.
“Through our partnership with Karson and the hard work of our culinary team, we’re able to reach thousands of children and provide the nourishment they need to thrive all summer long,” stated Parliament.
Although the cafeteria doors may have closed until September, many children will have full bellies this summer thanks to SFSP, which is just one way we at Fulfill are addressing summer hunger. We are also piloting a Summer Backpack Distribution with two Ocean County sites, which each receive cases of shelf-stable food items to distribute to children at the end of their camp week to help families get through the weekends.
“Summer hunger doesn’t take the weekend off either,” added Parliament. “The Summer Backpack Distribution is a simple, effective way to extend our reach beyond weekday meals. By sending food home at the end of the week, we’re helping children and their families stay nourished and supported.”
Bridging this nutrition gap is more than providing food, it’s about hope, stability and opportunity. Every meal served through this program represents a step toward a future where no child has to worry about where their next meal will come from. As the summer days go on, we remain committed to standing beside families offering support, nourishment and a chance for every child to thrive.
“Programs like SFSP are a lifeline for many children in the summer months. By delivering fresh, nutritious meals, Fulfill is ensuring that no child will go hungry while waiting for school to come back into session,” Parliament added.
Our commitment to ending childhood hunger doesn’t end when summer does. Through a variety of year-round Kid Feeding Programs, including our Backpack Program and Kids’ Café, we continue to provide nutritious food for children throughout the school year and beyond. By addressing hunger every day of the year, we’re helping to build a healthier, more food-secure future for thousands of children across Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
For more information about the Summer Food Service Program, please contact Corey Parliament at cparliament@fulfillnj.org. To learn more about Fulfill’s year-round Kid Feeding Programs, visit: https://fulfillnj.org/programs/#kids-feeding.
You can make a difference in the fight against summer hunger. Every dollar you donate by July 31 will be matched – doubling the impact of your gift. Join us in ensuring that no child in Monmouth and Ocean Counties goes hungry this summer. Give today: http://bit.ly/4eR2Jad.