Kids helping cops

Kahre Elementary students pitch in for police fundraiser

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Madolyn Ropell spent a week cleaning her bedroom and bathroom, taking out the trash, vacuuming and even pulling weeds in the backyard of her Northwest Las Vegas home.

At the end of the week in February, the 9-year-old was given extra allowance for her hard work. She took all the money and donated it to a fund being raised at Kahre Elementary school for the local Officer Down program.

When Metropolitan Police Sgt. Henry Prendes was killed on Feb. 1, the students at Kahre decided they wanted to do something to honor the him. The school is named after Marc A. Kahre, an officer who was killed in the line of duty in 1988.

"We wanted to do something in honor of the Prendes family," said Glenda Plaster, principal. "We thought we shouldn't just focus on one family."

Money from the Officer Down fund goes to the families of officers killed in the line of duty.

"I feel proud that my school is doing something," Madolyn said. "And that we have so much to do with such good things."

The students raised money through the end of February. They donated their allowance, gave their loose change and asked parents to take containers to work.

Students and the school's parent teacher organization (PTO) set up a stand at the Red Robin restaurant at 7860 W. Tropical Parkway, and asked customers to contribute.

"The big thing we want the kids to understand is that it is good to take their allowance and give it to something good," said Kevin Ropell, Madolyn's father and PTO president.

A check will be presented to Sheriff Bill Young in the presence of the Prendes family at the annual Marc A. Kahre Honor Day on May 6.

Kahre students also sent cards to the Prendes family right after Henry Prendes was killed.

"The Prendes children said the cards and messages from the students were comforting," Plaster said.

The Kahre Kids Care fundraising campaign originated when the Tsunami disaster hit. The group also raised money to donate to the Public Education Foundation Fund to provide Hurricane Katrina relief.