The Perry Food Pantry has received an $1,100 grant from the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rice Bowl program, with the grant dollars earmarked for infant food and other child-care items.
The Rev. Chris Reising of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Perry presented the grant check Friday to the Rev. Lou Hoger of Perry, director of the Perry Food Pantry. The grant funds will supply the Perry Food Pantry with baby food and other child-care items for 2019, Hoger said.
Along with infant formula, baby food and cereals, the grant will help supply other baby-care needs, including diapers and wet wipes, he said.
The CRS Rice Bowl grants are a Lenten faith-in-action program, with 25 percent of donations going toward hunger and poverty alleviation efforts in the local communities where the donations are raised and 75 percent supporting overseas programs.
The 25 percent portion supports a variety of organizations in their food-security mission. Food pantries and soup kitchens are among the more frequent recipients, according to CRS.
The 75 percent portion of CRS donations supports overseas programs. Examples include:
- Agriculture projects helping farmers improve harvests
- Water and sanitation projects bringing clean water to communities
- Microfinance projects supporting small businesses
- Mother and child health projects offering health and nutrition services
- Education projects providing resources and training
According to the CRS website, “Catholic Relief Services believes the 25 percent of CRS Rice Bowl contributions that are spent locally illustrates the importance of Christians’ global responsibility to assist those in need both around the corner and around the world. The 25 percent enables local participants to understand the plight of the poor overseas through the experience of the poor in their own communities.”
