Hempstead ISD has been awarded a 2023 Silver Turnip the Bee Award by the United States Department of Agriculture. Hempstead is one of 38 Texas Turnip the Beet award winners and one of 141 recipients nationwide. This award is given to districts that provide outstanding summer meal programs.
Summer meals are critical in the lives of millions of our nation’s youth, whose risk for food insecurity increases during the summer months when they no longer have access to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program.
The summer meal program provides students with energy and helps ensure they are healthy and ready to learn when they return to school in the fall. The Turnip the Beet Award was created to showcase districts that go above and beyond to ensure that children in their care are receiving high-quality meals that are both nutritious and appetizing.
Additionally, award winners are also recognized for serving local foods and fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. This includes serving low-fat or fat-free dairy products.