By Michael Sims, Th.D.
According to the United Nations, nearly three billion people did not have access to nutritious food in 2023. This means more than a third of the world’s population cannot afford a healthy diet – generally defined as access to fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein foods such as seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, beans, soy products, nuts and seeds.
In the United States in 2023, according to the USDA, 17.3% of households were food insecure, meaning due to a lack of resources, they had difficulty at some point during the year providing enough food for all their members. This is a staggering 57 million individuals.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated food insecurity in the United States, and millions of Americans are still experiencing hunger due to job losses, economic instability, disruptions in food supply chains and higher food costs, according to the National Institute for Health.
The donations collected through the Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl program provide critical support for food assistance programs that address immediate needs, ensuring that individuals and families have access to nutritious meals.
Here is how the CRS Rice Bowl program works.
Supporting Sustainable Solutions. CRS Rice Bowl prioritizes sustainable solutions to hunger and poverty, focusing on long-term development projects like providing community farms that empower communities to break the cycle of poverty. By investing in initiatives such as agricultural development, education and livelihood training, the program also helps build resilience and self-sufficiency, reducing vulnerability to future insecurity.
Promoting Solidarity and Compassion. Participating in the CRS Rice Bowl program fosters solidarity and compassion among individuals and communities, encouraging us through prayer, fasting and monetary donations to stand in solidarity with those who are suffering and to take action to alleviate their plight. This collective effort not only provides tangible assistance but also strengthens bonds of empathy and cross-cultural understanding.
Educating and Raising Awareness. CRS Rice Bowl provides personal stories of hope that put a face to those in need. It also offers prayer and educational resources along with materials that raise awareness about the root causes of hunger and poverty, both globally and domestically. By learning about the challenges faced by vulnerable communities, participants are inspired to become advocates for change and to support efforts to address systemic injustices that contribute to insecurity.
Supporting Disaster Response and Recovery. In times of crisis, CRS Rice Bowl funds can be quickly mobilized to support emergency response efforts, providing immediate assistance such as food, shelter and medical care to those affected by disasters or conflicts. CRS has helped noncombatants, mostly children, fleeing war-ravaged areas, and those left without homes after natural disasters in places like the wildfires in Maui, Hawaii and Chile that killed hundreds of people and destroyed thousands of homes. Additionally, the program supports longer-term recovery and reconstruction efforts, helping communities rebuild and recover.
To find out how the CRS Rice Bowl program plays a crucial role in addressing hunger and food insecurity both globally and domestically, to find meatless recipes from around the world, and print do-it-yourself Rice Bowl labels, visit crsricebowl.org. You can also find materials and other resources by visiting the Diocese’s Office of Life & Justices Ministries at camdendiocese.org/ljm.
Dr. Michael Sims is director of the Office of Life & Justice Ministries for the Diocese of Camden.
Did You Know?
Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, began the annual Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl campaign. Last year, the Diocese of Camden collected $107,359.
Twenty-five percent of funds collected each Lent through the CRS Rice Bowl global nutrition program stays in the Diocese for local hunger alleviation. (Last year that amounted to $26,840.) If your parish, school or ministry is involved in fighting hunger locally, apply for a Rice Bowl Grant at camdendiocese.org/ricebowl. Types of ministries that can apply: food pantries, soup kitchens, community gardens, meal programs that feed the hungry, and more.
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