About Catholic Relief Services’ Food Fast

boysPhoto by David Snyder for CRS

Food Fast is Catholic Relief Services’ 24-hour awareness program for Catholic youth (ages 13-18). Focusing on global poverty and hunger, Food Fast offers a journey of solidarity with our brothers and sisters overseas, as a way of living out our Catholic faith.

Grounded in Catholic social teaching, Food Fast teaches youth about issues faced by their peers in the developing world; encourages youth to take action on behalf of the poor and hungry; and calls youth to share their perspectives and knowledge about our world with their community to create lasting change in our world.

Here you can find answers to your Frequently Asked Questions, or contact us to learn more about how you can participate in Food Fast.

About Catholic Relief Services

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. We provide assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Fundraising

  • How does Catholic Relief Services use our donation?

    • Funds raised go to CRS’ general fund and are allocated to overseas programs that most need assistance. Some groups have also indicated that they want to designate the funds raised for a specific kind of program (e.g., water program), and CRS honors donor intent. If your group wants to designate the funds raised to a specific country or program then indicate it on the memo line of your check.

  • What percentage of our donation helps the poor around the world?

    • Ninety-three percent of funds raised go to overseas programs and 7 percent goes to administration and marketing.We try hard to be good stewards of your donations as well as of our resources.

  • How do we send our donation to Catholic Relief Services?

    • Please mail your donation to:
    • Catholic Relief Services
    • Food Fast
    • P.O. Box 17090
    • Baltimore, MD 21203-7090
    • Don’t forget to make checks payable to Catholic Relief Services and indicate in the memo line that you participated in Food Fast.

  • We sent a donation to Catholic Relief Services but have not received an acknowledgement letter.

    • Please email the contact information including the name of the parish, school or individual, and donation amount to foodfast@crs.org so that we can track the donation(s).Catholic Relief Services only acknowledges those checks we receive. If you collect donations from sponsors and mail one check to CRS from your group, you will need to acknowledge your donors’ gifts

  • Food Fast Date

  • Does Food Fast have to be held on a specific day?

    • You can schedule a Food Fast when it will be most effective for you! Do you want something to raise awareness at Thanksgiving? Do you want to fast in a special way during Lent? Whenever your youth ministry program calendar needs a wonderful faith experience is the right time for Food Fast!
    • We want to know when your Food Fast will be held so we can post it on our online Fasts around the United States. We’ll include your group in our prayer intentions and other youth groups will also pray for participants during their Food Fast.

  • Resources

  • What resources does Catholic Relief Services offer so I can organize a Food Fast?

    • CRS offers free Food Fast resources that you can order online or by calling 1-800-222-0025. The resources include:
    • Food Fast CD-ROM which provides resources to help you design your Food Fast.
    • Food Fast Poster helps you promote Food Fast to youth and notify your faith communitythat youth will be facing the Fast.
    • Food Fast Videos: CRS offers several videos that can be used during your Food Fast or as part of a follow-up activity.  We also have a Promotional Video that can be used to promote the retreat to your youth group.
    • foodfast.org has additional resources to help you plan and facilitate your Food Fast.
    • Go to Plan your Food Fast to download promotional resources, activities and much more.

  • Does Food Fast help young people live out their Catholic faith?

    • Food Fast is one way for young people to live out their Catholic faith. Through various activities, young people learn about Catholic social teaching and how they can respond to our Catholic call to assist our brothers and sisters in need.

  • Does Food Fast provide information on global hunger and poverty?

    • Food Fast offers information about global hunger and poverty and the challenges faced by people living in this reality through learning activities and Stories from the Field.

  • Media

  • Can Catholic Relief Services help my group contact local media to cover our Food Fast?

    • Catholic Relief Services can contact local media about your upcoming Food Fast. While CRS cannot guarantee local coverage of your Food Fast, we will reach out to media in your area.If you would like assistance with contacting media, please contact foodfast@crs.org at least 2 weeks prior to your Food Fast.

  • Appropriate Age Group

  • For which age group is Food Fast intended?

    • Food Fast is designed for use in high school youth groups or classrooms.However some groups have used Food Fast activities for middle school youth and schedule a 10-hour Food Fast.Alternatively, some college groups use Food Fast resources for Friday Night retreats.

  • Other Incentives

  • What does Catholic Relief Services offer to youth groups participating in Food Fast?

    • CRS offers Food Fast materials and a fair trade giveaway item for groups participating in Food Fast.We want to promote a lifestyle of simplicity and good stewardship of resources.

Contact Catholic Relief Services’ Food Fast

Email: foodfast@crs.org
Phone: 1-866-608-5978
Mail:
Catholic Relief Services
Food Fast
228 West Lexington Street
Baltimore, MD 21201