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THE REAL DEAL 7 September 2008
Donora Rotary's meager fare only meal for many
By Chris Buckley
VALLEY INDEPENDENT
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
DONORA - As members of the Rotary Club sat down for
their weekly luncheon Tuesday, they were not offered
fried chicken or stuffed cabbage or pizza.
Instead, each received a plain bowl of beans and rice.
It was not a mistake by the cook, but rather a stark
reminder of the fare many in third world countries have
as their single meal of the day.
Instead of a power lunch, they partook of "the Power of
Lunch," a program designed to raise hunger awareness.
Each Rotarian donated to the Donora Food Bank what
they would have normally paid for lunch.
The program was conceived by Rotary International
District 7330 Governor Mary Berge, who assumed the
office five weeks ago. Tuesday was her first visit to the
Donora Rotary Club.
When a district governor visits member clubs, it is
customary to honor them with fine meals. But Berge
encouraged her Johnstown Rotary Club to give up their
lunches and donate their lunch money to the local food
bank.
Since she assumed the district governor role, Berge has
been spreading the idea to the Rotary Clubs she visits.
District 7330 encompasses 44 clubs and 1,350
Rotarians in Cambria, Somerset, Westmoreland,
Fayette, Indiana, Greene and Washington counties. She
plans to visit all of the clubs by the end of October.
"I believe in leading by example," Berge said. "I don't
want people to treat me any differently."
As they sat down for their lunch meeting, Donora Rotary
Club President Matt Uram told his fellow Rotarians,
"Today, we eat a meager meal in respect for people in
third world countries who eat only this, and this could be
the only meal they have. As we reflect on today, think
about how lucky we are. This is still the best country in
the world."
The Rotary theme for 2008 is "Make Dreams Real."
"Whether that is clean water initiatives or hunger
initiatives or polio initiatives, the goal is to reduce
childhood deaths," Berge said. "Thirty thousand children
die from avoidable causes such as clean water issues,
diseases or hunger."
The local Rotarians used the gathering to discuss
programs in which they will participate during the
upcoming year.
Some such programs include:
- Back pack project - a metaphor for various initiatives to
help children in Nicaragua or Nigeria, such as donating a
sand filter to provide clean drinking water, or $75 that
provides education for a third-world child for a year.
- Providing all of the needs for a newly built school
building in Nicaragua.
- Buying a dictionary for every third-grader in Bentworth
and Donora elementary schools
- Helping to raise funds for the Salvation Army children's
activity center, a safe place for children to go after
school or in the summer. A summer camp is also
operated there.
- Clean up day in mid-September.
- Helping children establish organic gardens on vacant
sites in Donora. The proceeds from the sale of the
garden products would be used to sustain the gardens.
"We are a small club, but we are mighty," Uram said. "All
of the things that we do as a club - my heart goes out to
the members for making that happen."