Media CenterCRS Rice Bowl Donations More Important Than Ever Before

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Brittany Wichtendahl
Catholic Relief Services
[email protected]
(757) 748-5003

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, April 18, 2025 – As Catholics around the world prepare for Easter Sunday, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) calls on the faithful in the United States to turn in their CRS Rice Bowl and stand in solidarity with our global family.

With the U.S. reshaping its international humanitarian aid policies and funding, the need for CRS Rice Bowl donations is greater than ever. CRS has had vital humanitarian programs related to food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty alleviation terminated.

“When we talk about our programs being terminated, we’re really talking about people,” said Sean Callahan, CRS’ president and CEO. “It’s farmers no longer receiving tools to plant their crops, children no longer receiving medicine, families no longer getting food for their tables. With the cuts to U.S. humanitarian assistance, donations from CRS Rice Bowl are now critical for us to continue our lifesaving work.”

Despite these global challenges, small acts from individuals, parishes and dioceses in the U.S. can create a big impact. CRS Rice Bowl donations help CRS and local partners address urgent needs and support long-term solutions to hunger and poverty in countries like Nigeria and Guatemala.

“Ending the cycle of hunger and poverty is more than handing out provisions of rice or wheat,” said Callahan. “It’s also about building long-term relationships with these communities – like in Nigeria, where CRS Rice Bowl donations have provided cooking supplies to families. One woman used them to start selling food at the market. Now she’s supporting her family and helping other women launch their own businesses. She’s paying it forward.”

Rooted in Catholic social teaching, CRS Rice Bowl reflects the principle of solidarity – that we are one human family, and that wealthier nations have a responsibility to support nations in need. When our sisters and brothers are in need, no matter where they live, it affects us all. By giving through CRS Rice Bowl, U.S. Catholics join a collective effort to uphold human dignity and serve the most vulnerable.

“The 50th anniversary of CRS Rice Bowl is a perfect milestone for us to recommit to the fight against global hunger and poverty,” said Callahan. “With the support of the faithful here in the U.S. for programs like CRS Rice Bowl, we are going to continue our work for another 50 years and beyond.”

Many parishes and schools organize in-person events to collect Lenten alms, while others have set up online community giving pages. CRS Rice Bowl participants should contact their local parish to find out if a special collection will occur or if they should donate via an online community giving page.

Direct donations are accepted online, by phone or mail.

Online:

English: crsricebowl.org/give
Spanish: crsplatodearroz.org/donar

By Phone:

Call 877-435-7277 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., and Saturday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and tell the operator that the gift is for CRS Rice Bowl.

By Mail:

            Please write “CRS Rice Bowl” on the memo line of your check and mail it to:

Catholic Relief Services
Attn: CRS Rice Bowl
P.O. Box 5278
Tipton, IA 52772-0517

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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, visit www.crs.org or www.crsespanol.org and follow Catholic Relief Services on social media in English at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube; and in Spanish at: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Online Tools:
CRS Online Press Room: www.crs.org/press-room