Summer Hunger Awareness Month: Why Food Security Matters for Children's Health and Well-Being

By Nakia Marshall • 06/23/2026

June is recognized nationally as Summer Hunger Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on a challenge affecting millions of children across the United States, including thousands of children and families in New York City.

At Children of Bellevue, we understand that access to nutritious food is not simply a matter of hunger—it is a critical Social Determinant of Health (SDOH) that directly impacts a child's physical health, emotional well-being, educational success, and long-term life outcomes.

When schools close for summer break, many children lose reliable access to the free breakfasts and lunches they receive during the school year. For families already struggling with rising housing costs, transportation expenses, healthcare needs, and childcare costs, summer can become a season of heightened food insecurity.

Food Insecurity Is More Than Hunger

Social Determinants of Health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, learn, work, and play. These factors significantly influence health outcomes throughout life.

Food insecurity is deeply interconnected with other Social Determinants of Health, including:

Economic Stability
Housing Security
Access to Healthcare
Education Access and Quality
Neighborhood and Built Environment
Social and Community Context

When a family struggles to afford nutritious food, children are more likely to experience:

Poor physical health and chronic illness
Developmental delays
Difficulty concentrating in school
Increased behavioral and emotional challenges
Higher rates of anxiety and depression
Poor academic outcomes

Research consistently shows that children experiencing food insecurity are at greater risk of adverse health outcomes that can persist into adulthood.

The Connection Between Food Insecurity and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Food insecurity is also closely linked to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)—potentially traumatic events that occur during childhood and can have lasting effects on health, learning, and behavior.

Examples of ACEs include:

Household economic hardship
Domestic violence
Parental mental illness
Substance misuse in the household
Neglect
Housing instability
Community violence

For many children, food insecurity does not occur in isolation. It often exists alongside other stressors that create toxic stress and increase the likelihood of multiple ACEs.

A child who worries about where their next meal will come from may also be experiencing housing instability, parental unemployment, or limited access to healthcare. These overlapping challenges compound the effects of trauma and can negatively impact brain development, emotional regulation, and lifelong health.

At Children of Bellevue, we see firsthand how addressing basic needs such as nutrition can serve as a protective factor that helps buffer children from the harmful impacts of toxic stress and adversity.

Summer Should Be a Time for Growth—Not Hunger

Every child deserves a summer filled with opportunities to learn, play, and thrive—not worry about whether there will be food on the table.

Fortunately, New York City offers numerous resources to help families access nutritious meals during the summer months.

Free Summer Meals for Children and Teens

The New York City Public Schools Free Summer Meals Program provides free breakfast and lunch to anyone age 18 and younger. No registration, identification, or application is required. Meals are available at select public schools, parks, pools, libraries, and community locations throughout all five boroughs.

Families can locate the nearest meal site through:

Summer meals are available citywide from late June through early September.

Food Assistance Resources Across New York City's Five Boroughs

The following trusted organizations operate food pantries, community kitchens, and food distribution programs throughout New York City.

Citywide Resources

Food Bank For New York City

Operates a network of nearly 800 food pantries, soup kitchens, and mobile food distributions citywide.

Food Help NYC

Official NYC resource for locating free food pantries and soup kitchens.

City Harvest Food Map

Interactive map showing free food distributions, community pantries, and mobile markets across all five boroughs.

Bronx

These organizations are among the Bronx-based food programs supported through City Harvest's emergency food network.

Brooklyn

These organizations provide groceries, prepared meals, and emergency food assistance to Brooklyn residents.

Manhattan

Crossroads Community Services provides meals and pantry services to New Yorkers facing food insecurity.

Queens

These organizations support families with groceries, emergency food, and additional social services.

Staten Island

These community organizations provide food assistance and support services for Staten Island families.

How You Can Help

Ending childhood hunger requires collective action. Community members can make a difference by:

Donate to Children of Bellevue and designate your donation to “We Eat Together”
Donating to local food banks and pantries
Volunteering at food distribution events
Advocating for nutrition assistance programs
Supporting policies that address poverty and food insecurity
Sharing food resources with families in need

At Children of Bellevue, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive. Addressing food insecurity is not simply about providing meals—it is about creating healthier futures, reducing childhood adversity, and strengthening the well-being of our communities.

This Summer Hunger Awareness Month, let us work together to ensure that no child's potential is limited by hunger.

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