CRS - (Food Security & Global Trade)

Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) provides direct aid to the poor and involves people in their own development, helping them to realize their potential. CRS educates the people of the United States to fulfill their moral responsibilities toward our brothers and sisters around the world by helping the poor, working to remove the causes of poverty and promoting social justice.

CRS Rice Bowl Campaign

CRS Rice Bowl is Catholic Relief Services' Lenten solidarity program that brings Lent to life! The program is used by millions of Catholics throughout the United States, in more than 15,000 parishes, schools, and faith communities. Through CRS Rice Bowl, we reach out to assist our brothers and sisters around the world through traditional Lenten practices, while we learn about the global issues affecting our neighbors overseas, as well as here in the United States.

What is Lent?

Time Tables for Participation

Participating schools and parishes should order their supplies on line by the end of September or early October for next Lent.
Supplies are usually shipped 6 to 8 weeks prior to Lent.
Distribution of supplies to participants is ordinarily conducted one to two weeks prior to Lent. A blessing for Rice Bowls is included in the Coordinator's Guide.
The CRS Rice Bowl program officially begins on Ash Wednesday.
CRS Rice Bowl concludes on Easter Sunday.
Donations from participants should be collected by parishes/schools no later than June 30. Ask participants to make checks payable to your parish or school.
A single check and report form from the parish/school should be sent to the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph by July 30. Report forms are updated annually and posted as a resource.

Annual Lenten Rice Bowl Campaign Update!

Click for poster

PRAY

FAST

LEARN

GIVE

ORDER

How is the money used?

Lenten alms go to alleviate hunger and poverty in communities overseas and in the U.S.: seventy-five percent of gifts support CRS’ humanitarian programs around the world, including in the countries featured in the Lenten calendar. Some examples include:

25 percent of gifts remain in each U.S. diocese where they are given to hunger and poverty alleviation efforts in those communities. Each diocese uses this differently. Contact Chelsea Voboril at voboril@diocesekcsj.org to learn how these funds are used within the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

CRS Global Programs

CRS uses a holistic approach called integral human development to help people reach their full potential in an atmosphere of peace, social justice and human dignity. This long-term, dynamic process facilitates collaboration across civil society and the public and private sectors. CRS engages people at every level—individual, family, community, regional, national and international—to promote transformative and sustainable change.

CRS Ethical Trade

The CRS Fair Trade Program creates opportunities to make trade fairer for poor people overseas, through the choices we make about what we eat, drink and buy. Fair Trade is a new model of international trade, one that is built on right relationships between us and the people overseas who create the items we consume – relationships that respect human dignity, promote economic justice and cultivate global solidarity.

APPAREL

HOME DECOR

CANDIES & SNACKS

JEWELRY

COFFEES & TEAS

WEDDING

FAITH

GIFT CARDS

CRS by Country

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) provides direct aid to the poor and involves people in their own development, helping them to realize their potential. CRS educates the people of the United States to fulfill their moral responsibilities toward our brothers and sisters around the world by helping the poor, working to remove the causes of poverty and promoting social justice.

Human Rights Office ~ Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph ~ 20 West Ninth Street ~ Kansas City, MO 64105 ~ (816) 756-1850