Rice Bowls

Rice Bowls// www.ricebowls.org

FILL BOWLS, FIGHT HUNGER.  Rice Bowls is a nonprofit organization that began in the 1980's in Spartanburg, South Carolina.  The purpose of this organization is to provide orphans with food all in the name of Jesus Christ.  The idea was developed by Dr. Alastair Walker who witnessed firsthand the severity of world hunger after visiting developing countries.  With the help of his congregation, a plastic rice bowl coin bank was created.  The rice is significant because rice is a dietary staple around the world.  Over the past few decades, the concept of Rice Bowls has remained the same--they seek to help organizations collect money to help change hunger all over the world.

Rice Bowls// www.ricebowls.org

In part due to the global orphan crisis, Rice Bowls was able to partner with Christian orphanages in Sub-Saharan Africa and India in 2007 and has been working with them since then.  Rice Bowls, while such a worthy organization and able to help so many people still does all of their administration, operates, and manufactures all of their Rice Bowls in South Carolina.  To date, Rice Bowls has been responsible for raising tens of millions of dollars to help fight the global hunger epidemic.

The Rice Bowls Web site cites 6 easy steps on how to get involved with Rice Bowls:

1. Give the bowls out to your group.
2. Announce a gathering date. (4-6 weeks after start date)
3. Inspire everyone to fill their bowls.
4. Collect the bowls on the gathering date.
5. Break ’em open and add everything up.
6. Submit funds here or send a check with the return slip.

One cool thing is that these Rice Bowls are absolutely free to you to use and fill up.  Just submit a request for bowls and they will ship them to you.  They also have some really cool t-shirts that you can purchase on their web site.  You can donate money on their web site as well if you'd rather not order a Rice Bowl.  Encourage your group or organization to take this challenge and raise money to fight hunger.  The Bible tells us numerous times to honor God by giving to those in need.  I think it's very important that this is on your heart throughout the year.  Even though it is almost Christmastime, it might be a great fundraiser to do year round.