The basics:

• HMH, Fulfill provided 1,930 food backpacks to 409 NJ students this summer
• Expanded program reaches nearly a dozen sites in Monmouth, Ocean counties
• Kids receive shelf-stable meals, fresh produce during summer breaks
• HMH, Fulfill extend partnership through June 2027

Hackensack Meridian Health and Fulfill food bank are working to make sure that children experiencing food insecurity have access to nutritious eats during the summer.

The partners initially teamed up last fall on an initiative that gives kids backpacks filled with easy-to-prepare food each weekend when school cafeterias close. Now, they are boosting efforts to help families access healthy meals throughout June, July and August.

Through the expanded Backpack Program, Edison-based HMH and Neptune-headquartered Fulfill said they have provided 409 students with 1,930 backpacks so far this summer. More distributions will take place this month, they added.

Traditionally offered during the school year, the initiative provides shelf-stable breakfast and lunch items in gallon-sized bags that children can easily carry home in their backpacks. Distributed before the weekend, the packages aim to complement the meals that children receive during the week. It also seeks to give additional food support to kids when weekday meal sites aren’t available, Fulfill said.

The program selects food based on feedback from children, families and school partners. According to Fulfill, it puts an emphasis on familiar, nutritious options that require little preparation.

Securing summer meals

From December 2025 through May 2026, the partnership supported the distribution of 3,594 backpacks across multiple sites and 1,619 produce boxes through combined programming, the nonprofit said.

With support from HMH, the program extended into the summer at nearly a dozen participating Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sites in Monmouth and Ocean counties, according to Fulfill.

Along with weekend backpacks, children receive some fresh produce through a partnership with Philadelphia nonprofit regional wholesale food distributor The Common Market.

Fulfill Community Health Associate Cat Hynoski shared, “Summer can be one of the most difficult times for families facing food insecurity because the reliable meals children receive during the school year are not guaranteed.”

She continued, “Fulfill’s partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health allows us to bridge that gap … Together, we are not only helping ensure children have enough to eat over the weekends but are also supporting stronger food security for families.”

Sustainable solutions, a tangible difference

HMH’s almost $7 million initiative to combat food insecurity in New Jersey helps make the program possible.

Of that total investment, the partners dedicate $2.3 million to extending the benefits of the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program. That outreach provides kids with healthy, easy-to-prepare meals for weekends and school breaks.

At least 13 schools and after-school programs in communities served by HMH offer the Healthy Connections Nutrition Pack Program. HMH noted it targets locations where 40% or more of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

According to HMH and Fulfill, they recently extended their partnership through June 2027.

Nicole Harris-Hollingsworth is senior vice president of social impact & population health at HMH. She said, “We are dedicated to creating sustainable solutions that make a tangible difference in people’s lives. This initiative is about more than just providing food; it’s about providing security, improving health outcomes, and showing our communities that we are here for them.”

“By partnering with expert organizations like Feeding America-affiliated food banks and leveraging our network’s resources, we are ensuring that our investments have the maximum impact, reaching the people who need it most,” she said.