The playground and classrooms were bustling at Westerly Creek Elementary School on a day in June even though school was out for summer. Camp was underway, and inside the cafeteria, kitchen workers were getting ready to serve lunch to students and anyone else who needed food.
A chicken sandwich, green beans, and an apple were on the menu for the Denver Public Schools Summer Meal Program, launched to make sure food is available during the summer months, not just for students but all children ages 18 and under.
“It’s 100% free,” said Lindsey Long, a dietitian and community engagement coordinator for DPS food and nutrition services. “It’s a full meal that includes a grain, a protein, a fruit, and a vegetable every single time.”
A smaller crew of employees work during the summer months to provide food through the free meal program. At some of the older schools, hours are shorter as the kitchens aren’t cooled as well as the one at Westerly Creek Elementary School.
Meals are also available for adults for a small fee: $3 for breakfast and $5 for lunch. In a 2024 city survey, 15% of Denver adults reported food insecurity.
Long said this program helps fill the gap for families when the school lunch program ends at the end of the academic year.
“Knowing the rate of food insecurity, every child has an opportunity to get at least get two meals a day through the summer program. We know that it’s not just children who face food insecurity, especially when you think about older adults,” she said.
Sites chosen for the program include schools where a lot of kids are enrolled in camp and where there is need in the community.
Denver Public Schools food and nutrition worker Isabel Ray washed apples for the lunch meal during summer break.
“If a principal says, ‘Hey, our families really need this,’ we’ll have a summer site. It’s not always just based on camp. When there is a camp, there’s more hubbub, and people are more aware,” Long said.
The number of people served during the summer fluctuates, she added, and it’s hard to predict how many people will show up on any given day at about 60 sites across the district.
Signs line the streets around schools where free meals are served, offering a link to programs across the state.
Hours vary at locations, as do the weeks the program is offered, and the schools work closely together to prevent waste or make up for extra demand.
“It’s not uncommon that someone mid-service is running out to get more food, or conversely, we’ll have extra food.”
Long is proud of the quality of the nutritional value of the meals. As the growing season continues, there will be even more fresh vegetables on the cafeteria tables, she said.
DPS runs three farms producing food for the program: one acre at Bradley International School, half an acre at Schmidt Elementary, and a farm and greenhouse in southwest Denver at Glenbrook Greenhouse and Urban Farm. This year the crop includes cucumbers, cantaloupe, and watermelon. An additional planting will happen later in the summer so there’s a bountiful harvest for the school months.
Again this year, DPS will offer a Colorado Proud School Meal Day, 100% Colorado-grown menu on a day in October.
For a list of summer food sites visit dpsk12.org/o/foodservices/page/summer-meal.
The Westerly Creek location is open through August 14. Breakfast is served from 8:30 to 9:30am. Lunch begins at 11:30am.
Front Porch photos by Christie Gosch
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