New York City has opened its annual Free Summer Meals Program, offering free breakfast and lunch to anyone aged 18 or younger at hundreds of sites across the five boroughs. Service runs from 27 June through 29 August, with breakfast available 8:00–9:15 a.m. and lunch from 11:00 a.m.–1:15 p.m. Meals are served at public schools, parks, pools and libraries, and no identification or registration is needed. Food trucks will operate seven days a week, extending access to high-traffic outdoor locations. The City initiative is part of the broader New York State Summer Food Service Program, which is expected to distribute 20 million meals to about 400,000 children at roughly 2,500 locations this season, according to state officials. Separately, the state has begun issuing Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) payments, providing a one-time $120 grocery benefit per eligible child to help low-income families cover food costs when school cafeterias are closed. Most recipients receive the benefit automatically; households that are not pre-qualified can apply until 4 September.