(GALLERY) Hopkins Children Enjoy Lunch With Local Officers

Hopkins children got a chance Tuesday to learn more about being a police officer.

Public Service Officer Ahmad Kahin, Reserve Officer Richard Brasket and Police Services Liaison stopped by the summer lunch program at .

The employees answered questions about the department, read a story to the children and collected drawings to send to . The children then got the chance to explore two squad cars and inspect police equipment.

The summer lunch program offers free hot meals to school-aged children weekdays from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Alice Smith Elementary. Each meal consists of a healthful entrée, fruit, vegetable and milk. The district also offers breakfast weekdays from 8:45 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

The program runs through Aug. 19.

The meals are paid for through a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant that targets areas with large numbers of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. However, the program is free to any child younger than 18. Adults who accompany a child can eat for $1.

District coordinators have the following events planned during future summer lunch program dates:

• Face painting: 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Monday, Aug. 1
• Inflatable Bounce House: 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19