New Jersey is the top state in the nation for providing summer lunch to children who are signed up for school-year lunches, according to the Food Research & Action Center. The program serves tens of thousands of meals to students in the summer. This year, food was served at 1,250 sites across the state. 

The summer food service program started in 1976 to make sure those who are age 18 or  younger in low-income areas have access to meals when the school year is over. Eligible areas are those in which at least 50% of the children qualify for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program. The federally funded program is also open to people with intellectual, developmental or physical disabilities who participate in public or nonprofit private programs that support people with disabilities.