Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. CRS works to ease human suffering and promote justice around the world. In the United States, CRS educates Catholics about global solidarity.

CRS works in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Most of the poorest people in the world are low-income farmers, and so a major focus of CRS is agricultural assistance. Other areas of focus are improving community health, promoting greater access to good education, providing an emergency response during natural disasters and humanitarian crises, care for people with HIV/AIDS and peacebuilding.

The Diocese of Little Rock CRS Office helps raise awareness of the work of CRS and provides them with fundraising support. Our diocese currently is most involved in Operation Rice Bowl, which takes place each Lent. Seventy-five percent of money collected through ORB is sent to CRS to help support their work. The other 25 percent remains in the diocese to help fund Catholic Charities’ Parish Assistance Services.

CRS has several programs available for youth to learn more about global issues such as hunger, economic equality and peace building. CRS also has a great Web site and most of their educational materials can be downloaded or ordered free of charge. To learn more, go to www.crs.org.

Outreach Programs

Operation Rice Bowl (ORB): ORB is a Lenten program that seeks to educate participants on issues faced by the poor in the developing world and to raise funds for CRS overseas development projects. For more information, go to Operation Rice Bowl.
Work of Human Hands/Fair Trade: The Fair Trade program ensures that small-scale artisans and farmers overseas earn a fair price for their work. Work of Human Hands encourages parishes and schools to hold a craft sale of WHH items to benefit men, women and children in the developing world. For more information, go to www.crsfairtrade.org.
Food Fast: Targeted for grades 8-12, Food Fast educates youth on Catholic Social teaching and the reality of severe inequalities in resource allocation. For more information, go to www.foodfast.org.
CRS Collection: This national collection is held on the fourth Sunday of Lent and raises funds for Catholic Relief Services. For more information, go to the special collections calendar.

See article on this ministry in Arkansas Catholic.