Westminster nutrition services wins USDA 'Turn Up the Beat' award after summer meal push

Chartwells’ nutrition staff and Westminster Public Schools were recognized this week with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “Turn Up the Beat” award for their summer meal program. David Mackie, a Chartwells representative, told the Board of Education that Senator Michael Bennet’s office notified the district that it was one of two Colorado districts selected for the national recognition for “going above and beyond in offering nutritious, appealing and well‑balanced meals during the summer months.” The award highlights the district’s expanded summer service: Mackie said Chartwells added five apartment complexes and the Westminster Sports Center as summer meal sites and that the program served “nearly a 100,000 meals” this summer. He credited a “robust partnership” among Chartwells, Westminster Public Schools and the City of Westminster, and said Westminster Station Park will be added as a site next year. Why it matters: USDA recognition signals that the district maintained a large‑scale, organized summer feeding effort, which local officials said supported children and families when school was out. Board members and staff praised Chartwells’ summer work during the meeting. The board’s acknowledgment was limited to remarks and congratulations; no formal policy or budget action accompanied the recognition during the Aug. 12 meeting. The district did not provide a line‑item budget for the summer program during the public board remarks, nor did the meeting transcript include a breakdown of funding sources or per‑meal costs. Mackie attributed the effort to Chartwells’ partnership with the district and the city, and to volunteers and staff who supported summer sites.