By MaryHelen Swanson

A lunch of simple soup, bread and water may seem like a luxury to millions of people in this world. Although the simple meal wasnít that drastic in comparison to starvation, it was a clear reminder to the North Branch Rotarians Monday that not everyone eats well.

The Rotary club was participating in a ìFast for Hopeî project, a universal Rotarian project during February - Peace and Understanding month.

The club members bought bottled water (which had been donated by Viking Coke) and ate their meager lunch. Club members were informed that there are 1 billion people in the world who donít have clean water. The goal is to cut that in half in 10 years.

The Rotarians agreed to donate $375, plus what it usually costs for their noon lunch, plus the money raised from the sale of water and their ìhappy dollarsî to the international cause.

Then, going even further, the club decided to go shopping at Nelsonís Market and buy $200 worth of food items the local food pantry has indicated as a need.

The club decided to do this in February rather than at Christmas time because it was understood that at this time of year there is a greater need for the food shelves.

Seven members left the club lunch and went shopping. The group split into two and each set out to purchase the items on a list provided by the food pantry including such things as jelly, jello, pudding, boxed potatoes and stuffing, crackers, beans and margarine.

After a quick shopping spree, the group met at the check-out counter where the tally was $159.71. The club will write out a check to make up the difference to $200.