How and why does lunch improve for August in Wonder?

When Auggie starts his new school, he quickly discovers that lunchtimes can be a real pain. In the cafeteria, he feels more self-conscious about his facial disfigurement than usual, what with all the other kids sitting there gawping at him while he tries to each his lunch. But things soon improve when Summer comes over to his table and sits by him. This is the first real act of kindness that any of the other kids have shown Auggie, and it makes things so much easier for him.
Summer decides that their table should only be for those students who have some kind of connection to summer—that would be Summer herself, of course—or those whom Summer regards as nice—that would be Auggie. This way, Auggie will have somewhere to sit at lunchtime where he can feel safe and secure, where he doesn't feel like an animal in the zoo with everyone staring at him.