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Lu Lu’s Café and local law enforcement are teaming up to give back this holiday season with two special events on Dec. 23 at the establishment’s 204 South Main St. location in Estill Springs.

During regular business hours, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., the café, located at 204 S. Main St. in Estill Springs, is hosting local law enforcement personnel with a “Tip-A-Cop” event, marking the second one held in Franklin County this year.

The first was in August at Drafts and Watercrafts in Winchester on Tims Ford Lake, and the event proved to be a solid winner.

Sgt. Sam Davidson, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office public information officer, said this is a fundraiser to raise awareness and money for Special Olympics Tennessee as an extension of the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Officers from the Sheriff’s Office and other departments will be serving the customers as waiters and will be accepting multiple forms of payment, including cash, check, credit cards and Venmo.

 Funds earned by the officers will be used so that no Special Olympics athlete ever has to pay to train or compete, Davidson said, adding that the remaining money will be put toward healthcare for the athletes.

Tennessee has more than 18,000 Special Olympics competitors, and Franklin County has raised more than $20,000 this year, making it the leader in the state for monetary funds raised.

“The citizens of Franklin County should be very proud because Franklin County is the No. 1 fundraiser for the Special Olympics in Tennessee.” Davidson said.  “We hope to see as many people as possible at the event.”

The second event being held on Dec. 23 is a free dinner hosted by Lu Lu’s owner Matthew Sfirakis.

The dinner will start at 6 p.m., and there is no determined ending time, but Sfirakis said his goal for the event is to serve 1,000 free meals to local families in need, along with first responders, the elderly and those who don’t want to spend the holiday season alone.

 He said he wanted to find a way to give back to the community and help those who may need it.

“Not only that, first responders always have to work on the holidays,” Sfirakis said. “And even if someone is financially okay, they may not have a family. They may be lonely.”

This is the first time Lu Lu’s has hosted this type of event, but Sfirakis said he has hopes and intentions to make it an annual event.

Dinner will be available for dining in, take-out and delivery.

A sign-up sheet will be by the door in the café for volunteers and for those needing plates. People wanting to sign up for either list may also have their name added by calling Lu Lu’s Café at 931-649-3933.