This still image from a 1970s “Operation Rice Bowl” advertisement depicts two children talking about the collection now known as CRS Rice Bowl.
By Lindsay Steele
The Catholic Messenger
CRS Rice Bowl participants have contributed $350 million to ease hunger locally and worldwide since the program’s inception 50 years ago. “It’s miraculous,” said Deacon Kent Ferris, diocesan director of Social Action and of Catholic Charities. The annual Lenten collection helps Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to reduce suffering worldwide and provide assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, regardless of race, religion or nationality.
“Operation Rice Bowl” began in the diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1975 as an ecumenical response to the problem of world hunger, specifically the drought in the Sahel region of Africa, Deacon Ferris explained during a recent Rice Bowl webinar. Rice Bowl became a national program the following year and, in 1977, the U.S. bishops voted to make Rice Bowl the official program of CRS.
Catholics from the Diocese of Davenport donated $55,752 to CRS Rice Bowl in 2024. Each year, 75% of the diocesan Lenten collection supports international hunger relief efforts. The remaining 25% benefits local organizations that ease food insecurity, including Project Renewal in Davenport. Ann Schwickerath, the youth program’s executive director, said annual grants from Rice Bowl offset the cost of meals and snacks. “We’ve been fortunate to receive funding over the years,” she told webinar participants.
The diocesan Social Action Office recently distributed Rice bowl boxes to parishes and schools and has a limited supply of extra materials on hand. This year’s materials — available in English and Spanish — focus on three countries with a CRS presence: Nigeria, Bangladesh and Guatemala. Deacon Ferris shared a video of a Nigerian woman, Amina Bukar, who fled her homeland due to violence and later received training from CRS to help ease malnutrition in her new community.
Deacon Ferris’ wife, Lori, has led Rice Bowl efforts at Ss. Mary & Mathias Parish-Muscatine for more than 20 years. She shared the following Rice Bowl promotion ideas with webinar participants:
- Emphasize the 50th anniversary of the collection.
- Get people excited by speaking at Masses and other parish/school events.
- Share stories of those who have received assistance overseas and help people imagine what it would be like to walk in their shoes.
- Place Rice Bowls on tables during Lenten fish fries.
- Encourage youths and families to sell handmade crafts and food items. Donate the proceeds to Rice Bowl.
Pat Finan of St. Anthony Parish in Knoxville suggested offering weekly challenges, such as donating a nickel every time you turn on a faucet. The youths at his parish bring attention to the collection each year by reenacting CRS Rice Bowl videos at the end of Mass. “Then, we pass the basket and do a collection with the captive audience,” he said.
The Rice Bowl website, www.crsricebowl.org, contains resources for families, parishes and schools to maximize the collection, Deacon Ferris said. The website features stories of hope, reflections, prayer opportunities and meatless recipes. Spanish-speakers can go to www.crsplatodearroz.org for resources.
Deacon Ferris and Deacon Joe Welter, whose diocesan assignment is promoting CRS and Catholic Charities, are available to speak at parishes and schools. Contact Deacon Ferris at ferris@davenportdiocese.org or Deacon Welter at welterj@diodav.org.
The creativity and generosity Deacon Ferris observes during the annual Lenten collection encourages him. “I can see not only the stories from afar (but) how people have owned this collection in an incredibly powerful way.”
Watch the webinar
To watch this Rice Bowl webinar, go to https://tinyurl.com/IowaRiceBowl
