A lunch at Mercy Academy introduced middle and high schools students to this year’s Rice Bowl season Thursday morning.

A slate of people from the Archdiocese and Catholic Charities, including Archbishop Kurtz, explored the annual fundraiser for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) which ministers globally and domestically in response to hunger and natural disasters.

The term “rice bowl” refers to a small box into which students and their families are encouraged to drop change every day during the Lenten season. Although that seems like a small item, Archbishop Kurtz noted, over the last five years the Archdiocese of Louisville has raised more than $500,000 for CRS with Rice Bowl gifts.

CRS dedicates 75 percent of all funds raised nationwide to services outside of the United States, and 25 percent to domestic outreaches. In Louisville, that 25 percent come to Catholic Charities who disburses it to parishes and ministries outside the metro area.

Thursday morning’s event was organized by a committee that included our own Ashley Steimel and Mary Wurtz and included remarks from Lauren Goldener. Mary also served as the emcee.

To learn more, visit the CRS Rice Bowl site here.