Catholic Charities Solidarity Team responds to need through Rice Bowl Grants

Nearly 40 years ago, in his 1987 encyclical, On Social Concern [Sollicitudo rei Socialis], St. John Paul II defined solidarity as “the firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say, to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all.”

Some 15 years later, in 2002, informed then and now by this principle of solidarity, the Catholic Charities Solidarity Team was founded.  As a volunteer program of Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen, the CCST responds to the Gospel call to love God, neighbor and creation and works to reduce injustices and suffering of the poor and vulnerable overseas and within the Diocese.

Through prayer and in the light of Catholic Social Teaching, CCST engages in various activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, especially Catholic Relief Services, along with the Justice for Immigrants campaign. Strides are made through the time, talent and financial support of volunteers in the diocesan community, including staff members from Catholic Charities.

Both internationally and locally the CCST has responded where needed with emergency relief, along with projects that span health, agriculture, water, economic development, food security, education and community-building.

As part of its work with Catholic Relief Services, the official relief and development agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, CCST promotes CRS Rice Bowl, the Lenten program of CRS which encourages parishes in every U.S. diocese to put their faith into action through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Each year some 45 countries are recipients of the fruit of Lenten alms which support the work of CRS in those countries. Twenty-five percent of all donations to CRS Rice Bowl stay in the local diocese, supporting hunger and poverty alleviation efforts there.

For more than a decade, the Catholic Charities Solidarity Team has honored CRS’ understanding of the local 25% by running a Rice Bowl Grants program for food security needs in the Metuchen Diocese. This program allows a variety of organizations to receive help in their food security mission.  Food pantries and soup kitchens are among the more frequent recipients.

In 2024, some $27,000 was distributed to 14 recipients, including: North Plainfield Conference, St. Vincent de Paul Society; Penn Medical Plainsboro Cancer Center; Society of St. Vincent de Paul at Our Lady of Victories, Sayreville; Holy Family Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, New Brunswick; Catholic Charities, DOM, Phillipsburg; Somerville Area Fish, Inc., Bridgewater; Community House at St. Thomas, Old Bridge; St. James Food Pantry, Woodbridge; St. Anthony of Padua Food Pantry, Port Reading; St. Vincent de Paul Ministry of Queenship of Mary, Plainsboro; HOME of Somerset County, Somerset; Queenship of Mary Social Outreach Ministry, Plainsboro; Feeding Hands, Inc., Hillsborough, and  St. Vincent de Paul – St. Bartholomew Conference, East Brunswick.

To learn more about CCST and Rice Bowl Grants visit https://ccsolidarity.org/

Visit Facebook, Instagram, and X — @ccdom1 — to stay updated on upcoming events and ways to help clients get the services they need.

Tiffany Workman is the diocesan communications specialist in the Office of Communications and Public Relations.