The Suffolk Sheriff’s Office was able to deliver much-needed school supplies to Mack Benn Jr. Elementary School on Monday, thanks to an assist from a helpful family that’s committed to supporting Suffolk students.

Kathy Kenda donated approximately 50 bookbags to Mack Benn Jr. Elementary School Monday morning, each one packed with school supplies. Some of these school supplies came from the recent school supply drive by the Sheriff’s Office, but most were paid for out of the Kenda family’s own pockets.

“It’s been a great relationship,” said Sheriff E.C. Harris about this partnership. “As soon as the Kendas moved to Suffolk, they started reaching out to see what they can do in the community to give back. It’s just been a collaboration with the Kendas and the Sheriff’s Office that’s been outstanding, and it’s only going to grow and get better each year.”

Kathy Kenda is married to Lt. Joe Kenda, a retired Colorado Springs homicide detective and star of Investigation Discovery’s “Homicide Hunter.”

Last year, Kathy Kenda partnered with a Colorado Springs, Colo., Walmart store to provide the Suffolk Sheriff’s Office with 100-or-so bookbags, she said. These were donated to Elephant’s Fork Elementary School and various Suffolk churches.

The bookbags for this year’s donation came from Suffolk Walmart on North Main Street and will be distributed to Mack Benn Jr. students that need them the most when classes start soon.

“Some of our kids come to school without much,” said Mack Benn Jr. Elementary School Principal Garrick Rhoads. “There’s nothing in (their) bookbag, and sometimes there’s not even a bookbag.

“The fact that we’re able to receive these donations means a lot of our kids are going to have what they need to start the school year.”

Kenda said she’s excited to keep helping the Suffolk Sheriff’s Office, Suffolk Public Schools and — and most importantly — Suffolk’s young students.

“If you get the little kids, and you get them to where they like the policemen, and they like the firemen, and they have the tools to learn, maybe you can keep them on the straight and narrow as they grow older,” Kenda said.