The small, familiar, and colorful cardboard bowl of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rice Bowl has been a familiar sight for generations in the homes of U.S. Catholics at Lent.
For the past 10 years, that bowl, a tiny collection basket in a squarish bowl shape, has been a familiar presence in the home of the Buechel family of St. Mary Parish in Denville. At Lent, the family’s four children, aged 5 to 14, fill the bowl on the dining room table with dollar bills and some coins for people in need and hungry worldwide and locally. This small act reminds them they can make a big difference.
“I like helping other people. It makes me feel good,” said Ashlyn Buechel, 11, about her involvement with the CRS Rice Bowl.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the CRS Rice Bowl, a Lenten program through CRS. Once again, generous Paterson Diocesan faithful unite with Catholics countrywide to answer Jesus’ call to help “the least among us.” The campaign supports CRS’ work, which aids more than 200 million people in more than 120 countries facing life-threatening levels of hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition.
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Last year, the diocese contributed $46,820 to CRS. Since its inception in 1975, the CRS Rice Bowl has collected $350 million.
The Buechel children contribute by tapping into their piggy banks and sharing birthday, Christmas, or chore money, usually totaling $50. Their parents, Shannon and Mark, make donations to separate charities.
“Our kids see how they are making a tangible impact,” said Shannon Buechel, noting they discuss poverty globally and the homeless locally. We talk about how Jesus took care of others, especially poor people.”
Over the years, people in the parishes and schools of the diocese have filled CRS Rice Bowl’s paper bowls at Lent. Today, donors can also mail a check to CRS or contribute online.
St. Pius X Parish in Montville has been participating in the CRS Rice Bowl for more than 14 years, said Father Mark Olenowski, pastor.
“It’s important to have solidarity with the poor. Everyone wants to address hunger and poverty but thinks it’s impossible. The CRS Rice Bowl makes fast connections between donors and people who need help,” Father Olenowski said.
St. Mary Parish in Denville made more bowls available earlier this year to make a “big push” for the campaign. The parish collected about $1,000 last year. Father Martin Glynn, pastor and diocesan Catholic Charities’ board president, said the parish has been involved for at least 25 years.
A portion of the funds collected for the CRS Rice Bowl stays in the diocese to support local organizations fighting hunger and poverty. According to Scott Milliken, Catholic Charities’ CEO, Catholic Family and Community Services (CFCS) uses its contributions to buy food for its food pantries. Last year, CFCS received $15,000.
“I thank everyone who contributed to the CRS Rice Bowl, which helps folks around the world and provides food for people in need in our food pantries,” Milliken said.
This year’s contributions are more urgent because CRS faces financial cuts that could end its operation. Almost all the foreign-based assistance of the U.S. bishops’ overseas relief agency has been terminated. Also, according to the National Catholic Reporter, its publicly supported programs are on life support after President Donald Trump issued a freeze on nearly all foreign assistance programs funded through the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
St. Bonaventure Parish in Paterson also participates in the CRS Rice Bowl. Father Alex Nevitt, administrator, recalls that as an eighth grader, his father encouraged him to ask guests to his birthday party to fill up rice bowls and return them instead of giving him a present.
“I wasn’t the happiest about it at the time, but it was a great way to connect a celebration to helping those in need,” said Father Nevitt, adding he’s moved by the diocesan faithful’s contributions to the CRS Rice Bowl. “It’s challenging today since most people have very little when it comes to coins, but I’m always impressed to see people writing generous checks at the end of Lent to support this mission.”
To donate to CRS Rice Bowl, visit crsricebowl.org/give in English or crsplatodearroz.org/donar in Spanish; call 877-435-7277; or mail a check to Catholic Relief Services, Attention: CRS Rice Bowl, P.O. Box 5200 Harlan, Iowa, 51593-0700. Write “CRS Rice Bowl” on the check memo line.
