Media CenterTurn Your Lenten Sacrifices into Lasting Change

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Susan Walters
Catholic Relief Services
[email protected]
(410) 925-8268 (cell)

En español

BALTIMORE, MD, April 19, 2017 – With the joyful arrival of Easter comes the reminder to Catholics in the United States to return their CRS Rice Bowls so others can experience the life-changing benefits that these sacrifices will create.  Here’s how.

Schools and parishes that participate in CRS Rice Bowl traditionally hold an event to collect CRS Rice Bowls between Palm Sunday and the Sunday after Easter.  If you missed the event, here are easy options for returning your CRS Rice Bowl:

• Turn in CRS Rice Bowls online: crsricebowl.org/give
• Turn in CRS Rice Bowls by phone: 1-877-435-7277 (be sure to mention CRS Rice Bowl)
• Turn in your CRS Rice Bowls to your school or parish 
• Turn in CRS Rice Bowls by mail (be sure to write CRS Rice Bowl in memo line of check)

Catholic Relief Services CRS Rice Bowl P.O. Box 5200 Harlan, IA 51593-0700

“By turning in their Rice Bowls, participants have the chance to make sure their Lenten sacrifices help our brothers and sisters in need through the work of CRS,” said Joan Rosenhauer, executive vice president of U.S. operations. “We hope that the CRS Rice Bowl resources have enriched Lenten experiences across the country by bringing stories of hope from the people we serve around the world.”

CRS Rice Bowl is a program with an effect that goes far beyond the funds it raises for those who need support and services in communities throughout the United States and overseas.  It helps Catholics reflect on their faith life as well.

“Our Catholic community in the United States does something amazing each Lent. We come together to practice prayer, fasting and almsgiving—and by doing so we help lift families and communities out of poverty and put them on a path toward resilience, prosperity and stability. That’s the CRS Rice Bowl effect,” said Beth Martin, director of CRS Rice Bowl. 

Twenty-five percent of the monies collected through CRS Rice Bowl remains in the dioceses where it is collected to address the needs of the local community. Often dioceses offer small grants to fund food pantries, community gardens and other hunger prevention efforts.

Since 1975, CRS Rice Bowl has been a Lenten tradition for thousands of Catholic families, parishes and schools as a way to focus on the lives and need of others.

Additional information at: www.crsricebowl.org

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Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. The agency alleviates suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. For more information, please visit crs.org or crsespanol.org and follow CRS on social media: Facebook, @CatholicRelief, @CRSnews, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.