CHARLOTTE — In 2025, 16 parishes and two Catholic ministries in the Diocese of Charlotte received $1,000 Catholic Charities CRS Rice Bowl Mini-Grants to assist people in need.
Grant recipients represented the geographic diversity of the diocese, with the 18 grantees located in nine of the diocese’s 10 geographic divisions. Locations of 2025 grant recipients included: Albemarle, Asheville (2), Belmont (2), Boonville, Charlotte (4), Clemmons, Eden, Greensboro, Lexington, Mint Hill, Morganton, Spruce Pine and Sylva.
A dozen of the grants helped fund parish food relief programs, including two weekend backpack programs that give supplies to students. The remaining six grants helped ministries that assist the homeless, offer utility assistance, host a parish-based health program, provide supplies for a community garden, and sponsored an educational event on opioid addiction.
These grants were made possible through the Lenten CRS Rice Bowl Collection. Each year, 25% of proceeds remain in the Diocese of Charlotte to help at the local level. The other 75% goes to Catholic Relief Services to help fund humanitarian assistance overseas.
Queen of Apostles Parish in Belmont received a grant for its Backpack Weekend Food Program. As project coordinator Julie Russo noted, “Children who would be hungry on the weekends are being provided well-balanced meals and are ready to learn Monday morning.”
In Lexington, Our Lady of the Rosary Parish used the grant to distribute Lenten Food Bags in the community. The program directly helps those in need and raises awareness of food insecurity in the community.
As program coordinator Marla Silbernagel explained, an additional benefit is “getting our parish name out in the community. We will be distributing paper grocery bags printed with our parish name and address.”
Our Lady of Consolation Parish in Charlotte used their grant funds for community outreach for students.
“The grant funds will be used to provide nutritious snacks for students at Druid Hills Academy, helping to ensure that children in our neighborhood have access to healthy options that support their well-being and academic success,” said parishioner Chanele Jackson, project leader and youth stewardship volunteer.
Grant recipients are appreciative that the program allows their ministries to do more. As Jackson said, “we are grateful for the trust you have placed in our parish and for the meaningful work CRS makes possible. This grant will allow us to continue serving our community with compassion, stewardship, and a commitment to justice.”
The 2026 CRS Rice Bowl Program begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18. Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte is grateful for all the parishes and schools that participate in the CRS Rice Bowl, which has been a program of CRS for more than 50 years.
Founded in 1943, CRS is the official overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and is a member of Caritas International. For more information, visit www.crs.org.
— Joseph Purello, CRS Diocesan Director and Catholic Charities Social Concerns and Advocacy
