The parking lot at The Store Next Door on Birch Street in Lewiston is filled Thursday with some of the more than 1,000 people attending a free barbeque organized by the Lewiston School Department. The event marked the end of its summer outreach program that provided numerous services for students and families. In addition to the food, entertainment and free haircuts by local barbers, 1,500 backpacks were given out. The gathering also gave the School Department the opportunity to connect with students and parents, hand out schedules, sign up students and make connections before the start of school at the end of the month. Walmart presented a check for $15,000 to The Store Next Door, a resource center for students and families. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Melissa Hoskins hugs her children, Dillon, left, and Even, right, Thursday as they wait in line for food in the parking lot of The Store Next Door on Birch Street in Lewiston. The event marked the end of the Lewiston School Department’s summer outreach program that provided numerous services for students and families. In addition to the food, entertainment and free haircuts by local barbers, 1,500 backpacks were given out. The gathering also gave the School Department the opportunity to connect with students and parents, hand out schedules, sign up students and make connections before the start of school at the end of the month. Walmart presented a check for $15,000 to The Store Next Door, a resource center for students and families. Visit sunjournal.com to view more photos from the event. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Children catch bubbles Thursday afternoon in the parking lot of The Store Next Door on Birch Street in Lewiston. Over 1,000 people attended the free barbeque organized by the Lewiston School Department to mark the end of its summer outreach program that provided numerous services for students and families. In addition to the food, entertainment and free haircuts by local barbers, 1,500 backpacks were given out. It also gave the School Department the opportunity to connect with students and parents, hand out schedules, sign students up and make connections before the start of school at the end of the month. Walmart presented a check for $15,000 to The Store Next Door, a resource center for students and their families. Visit sunjournal.com to view more photos from the event. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal