The North Platte D.A.R.E drug prevention program got a big boost today thanks to a new eatery in the city.

On Tuesday morning, Officer Rodney Brown and Chief Mike Swain of the North Platte Police Department accepted a check for $1,700 from Qdoba Mexican Grill.

According to Brown, the money was raised when Qdoba held a “soft opening” at their new North Platte location on May 20, and will go to support the North Platte D.A.R.E. program.

“D.A.R.E. is a staple here,” said Brown.  “You hear rumors all the time on how it’s going to go away, and some communities have given up on it, but I don’t see that happening here.

“The people we deal with the most for substance abuse and violence are the ones who say they want it [the program] here.”

D.A.R.E., which was started in 1983, is a police officer-led series of classroom lessons that teaches children from kindergarten through 12th grade how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and violence-free lives.  In North Platte, the program is offered to students in fifth grade.

Qdoba, 109 Halligan Drive, has been in operation since late May of this year.  Its management said they look forward to supporting the community of North Platte and feel the D.A.R.E. program is an excellent program to support.