Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

The annual CRS Rice Bowl campaign, which supports Catholic Relief Services (CRS), has kicked off with a celebration of its past success and a call for continued participation. Last year, the Archdiocese of Louisville had its largest collection for Rice Bowl in the last decade, with a 38.5 percent increase in giving compared to the previous year.

During the kickoff event, Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre shared his personal connection to Rice Bowl, stating, "That little cardboard box sat prominently in our home." He emphasized the importance of sacrifice and giving, saying, "Love in its totality is sacrifice. It's me giving up something for someone else." Archbishop Fabre also highlighted his own experience witnessing the impact of Rice Bowl funds in Kenya, where CRS constructed a well that provided a reliable water source for a farming town.

Peyton Rhea, Catholic Charities of Louisville's parish and schools engagement coordinator, spoke about the global effects of the Rice Bowl collection. He mentioned the need to teach new farming methods to Ugandan farmers, prioritize chicken farming in El Salvador, and support disaster preparedness in Indonesia. Rhea emphasized that these projects aim to "retain the dignity of life of each person."

In addition to supporting international projects, 25 percent of the Rice Bowl collection returns to the Archdiocese of Louisville to assist with local emergency food and shelter assistance. In 2023, CRS was able to give $40,000 to seven local nonprofits, benefitting three more charities than the previous year.

Ra'Shann Martin, executive director of St. John Center, shared how the donation from Rice Bowl has supported their work with Louisville's homeless population. St. John Center provides street outreach, a day shelter with social services, and permanent supportive housing. Martin revealed that nearly 3,000 people visited the day shelter in fiscal year 2023, and the center was able to assist nearly 1,500 individuals with identification cards and birth certificates, as well as help 230 guests move into permanent housing.

The kickoff event also included a brainstorming session for students to come up with ideas for engaging their classmates and parishioners in Rice Bowl fundraising. One student from St. Margaret Mary School shared that they had offered incentives to the classes that raised the most money.

As Lent approaches, the iconic cardboard boxes of Rice Bowl will start making their appearances on February 14. The campaign encourages individuals to participate in this meaningful act of giving and sacrifice, with the funds supporting CRS in its mission to assist those in need both globally and locally.

For more information on CRS and the Rice Bowl campaign, visit crsricebowl.org.