By Michele Jurich
Staff writer

The pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters tucked into paper rice bowls during Lent are about to make Christmas brighter for hundreds of hungry families and individuals in the East Bay.

Eighteen agencies that fight hunger in Alameda and Contra counties — including 10 parish-based Saint Vincent de Paul conferences — have received grants totaling $15,000 from the 2011 Operation Rice Bowl.

More than 100 representatives gathered at the parish hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Light on Dec. 2 to accept the grants, made possible by contributions throughout the diocese during the Lenten collection.

Catholic schools and parishes from more than 12,000 communities participate, according to Catholic Relief Services, sponsor of Operation Rice Bowl.

Participants in Operation Rice Bowl are asked to prepare simple, meatless recipes each week and put the money they otherwise would have spent on a big meal into symbolic rice bowls. That money goes to support Catholic Relief Services’ mission to fight global hunger and poverty.

Twenty-five percent of the funds raised locally stay in the community in the form of Operation Rice Bowl grants, to local St. Vincent de Paul conferences and other organizations, such as soup kitchens, shelters in the area which are working to alleviate hunger.

The Operation Rice Bowl Grant Program is sponsored by Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Charities of the East Bay in the Diocese of Oakland.

“As grantees, you collectively represent the real, authentic grassroots safety net provider in the broader diocesan community,” said Solomon Belette, chief executive officer of Catholic Charities of the East Bay. “You are the boots on the ground giving hope with your time, talent and treasure, which emanates from your deep convictions to charity and social justice.”

The Operation Rice Bowl grant was a first for the St. Vincent de Paul of St. Augustine Parish in North Oakland. In addition to providing boxes of food to 100 families twice a month, the group prepares brown bag snacks that are given to the hungry who knock on the rectory door on busy Alcatraz Avenue.

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