Winona Lake Police Department Chief Joe Hawn and WLPD Officer Phil Hawks (far left) talk with people grabbing food at a free back-to-school lunch on Monday, Aug. 7.

Text and Photos
By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WINONA LAKE — The Winona Lake Police Department held its annual and free back-to-school lunch for the community on Monday, Aug. 7.

Hundreds of children, families, and community members were in attendance to enjoy WLPD Chief Joe Hawn’s famous “jacked up on Mountain Dew back-to-school special.”

This is the third year for the lunch, which featured hamburgers, chips, and ice cream.

“There’s a lot of kids from Lakeland (Christian Academy) here, and Jefferson (Elementary School) obviously,” said Hawn. “But I’ve even had Eisenhower, Lincoln, Gateway (Education Center) and Madison kids. But this is for everybody to enjoy. Seeing the kids’ smiles and seeing them getting all excited about having ice cream…it’s a really good event, a last event for the kids to enjoy before they go back to school.”

Due to weather, the event was moved from the Winona Lake Limitless Park to the Miller Sunset Pavilion.

Attendees got to enjoy hamburgers, chips, and ice cream.