CHARLOTTE — Each Lent, Catholic families across the country unite to put their faith into action through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Through Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl, families learn about how our sisters and brothers across the globe overcome hardships like hunger and malnutrition, and how through Lenten alms, we have the power to make the world a better place for all.
Thousands of parishes and schools across the U.S. have been participating in CRS Rice Bowl since the campaign began Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17.
CRS Rice Bowl is a simple cardboard box that serves as a tool for collecting Lenten alms. It comes with a Lenten calendar that guides families through the 40 days of Lent with activities, reflections and stories. There’s still time to participate by going online to www.crsricebowl.org.
The campaign benefits the work of Catholic Relief Services, the official relief and development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. CRS Rice Bowl donations support the work of CRS in more than 100 different countries each year, and 25 percent of your donations stay in the Diocese of Charlotte, supporting local hunger and poverty alleviation efforts through the CRS Rice Bowl Mini-Grants program sponsored by Catholic Charities.
Typically, CRS Rice Bowl donations are collected in diocesan parishes and schools at the end of Lent or soon after Easter. The collection is counted and each parish or school sends their donation to the diocesan Finance Office. However, due to constraints caused by the pandemic, participating parishes and schools may choose another method of collecting and submitting their CRS Rice Bowl funds.
Questions about CRS Rice Bowl Mini-Grants or CRS Rice Bowl parish and school Rice Bowl collection remittance procedures may be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
— Joseph Purello, director of the Office of Social Concerns and Advocacy for Catholic Charities, and Catholic Relief Services contributed.
CRS Rice Bowl Mini-Grants
Does your parish help run a food pantry, operate a thrift store, or sponsor an emergency services program? Perhaps your parish or school provides meals for those who are homeless, or sponsors a garden that provides fresh produce to those in need.
If so, consider applying for a Catholic Charities CRS Rice Bowl Mini-Grant for up to $1,000 in grant funds. Grant applications must be reviewed and signed by the pastor of the parish, principal of the school, or director of the diocesan office applying for the grant as well as by the project director/coordinator.
Information on the 2021 round of the CRS Rice Bowl Mini-Grant Program, including the grant guidelines, eligibility, and application document, will be available May 1 at www.ccdoc.org/cchdcrs.