Soup contest Friday

McCOOK, Neb. -- MNB Insurance will defend the title of the People's Choice in the second annual McCook Rotary Club Soup-R-Bowl competition to be held Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. throughout downtown McCook. They will be competing with twelve other organizations for the most delicious bowl of soup, all to raise funds and food for the McCook Pantry.

The public is invited to bring their appetites to various locations throughout downtown McCook Friday to try a sample of thirteen different varieties of soup. Ballots will be available at each location so you can keep track of your favorite. Hungry attendees can start at any location, as well as place their final voting ballot at any location. A free-will cash donation is encouraged to benefit the McCook Pantry. Donated food items will also be accepted at each location. Last year's event raised over $600, as well as many food items for the Pantry.

According to organizer and Rotarian Steve Rasmusen, the event is a way to help businesses to work together to generate foot traffic downtown while at the same time giving back to the community. Each business will donate the ingredients and time to prepare the soup; and Community Hospital will donate supplies.

"This is a great time of year for the event, because the McCook Pantry is normally low after helping families get through the holidays," said Rasmusen. "They are always very appreciative of any help they can get."

Soup can be tasted at Acme Printing, Longnecker Jewelry, Horizon Bank, MNB Insurance, Accents, Etc., The Sports Shoppe, Knowlen & Yates and Wells Fargo Bank. In addition, several varieties will be available at the Keystone Business Center, provided by Keystone Floral, McCook Chamber of Commerce, Adventure Travel, Community Hospital, and McCook Economic Development Corp.