The Council of Korean Churches in Southern California began its sixth annual Rice of Love campaign this year, promising financial transparency to its donors.
The Council of Korean Churches in Southern California will be participating in the "Rice of Love" campaign once again this year. The Council plans to raise $100,000 to share 10,000 bags of rice to surrounding communities, and this year, it places a special emphasis on the fact that the event will have a third party to oversee the entire financial process.
Hyuk Choi, the newly inaugurated president of the Council, said that it and the Holy City Movement have been wrestling with past issues of financial transparency, and said, "All we can say is that we're sorry," and promised that they "will do their best to be financially transparent."
In an interview at the office of the Council, Choi said, "When we began the planning process of the campaign this year, we started off by setting a new institutional framework." First, he said that Rice of Love will have a form of independence within the Council, and that it will be monitored by a third-party oversight body. All donations will be deposited directly into the bank in their entirety, and all expenses, regardless of the amount, will be reported in an expenses report, which must be signed by the treasurer and president of the Council. Expenses will only be made possible by check. Detailed statements of all expenses will be made public via newspapers and websites, through which anyone who is interested will be able to peruse and evaluate the Council's expenditure. The funds that are left after the event is over will be passed over to the body who will be running the Rice of Love campaign the following year.
"In order that all of the offering that has been given to us by our fellow brothers and sisters toward Rice of Love will be used solely for that purpose, other than money used for promotional purposes, all other expenses for events, planning, etc. will be provided by the Council's finances," Choi said. Last year, around 83 percent of the funds toward Rice of Love was used for the rice itself.
"If possible, we also want to invite the media companies to join us in this Rice of Love campaign by allowing us to advertise with them free of charge," Choi added. "Isn't it the expectation of those who give towards this campaign that 100 percent of their offering will be used to purchase rice?"
Moreover, the system by which the rice will be distributed has also been altered for this year's campaign. Previously, rice was distributed to the churches that gave offering for the Rice of Love campaign. Individuals who requested for bags of rice would then receive coupons from the Council and go to the churches to receive the rice. However, this year, individuals can receive coupons and exchange it for rice directly at any local supermarket.
"In the past, though it was a relatively small number of people, I noticed that there were people who felt burdened by the idea of having to stand in line to receive their rice. This year, they can simply receive the coupons and go to any market of their choice to receive the rice," Choi explained.
The old system of distribution will also still be taking place, and rice will also be made available for pick up at the Korean Theological Seminary and the Koreatown Youth and Community Center (KYCC). Those who want to request bags of rice can do so online, or in person at Korean American Family Services, Korean Resource Center, KYCC, and other Korean organizations. Each family is allowed to request up to two bags of rice.
"We've had some hurts and trials while running the Rice of Love campaign up until now," Choi said. "This year, we want to start from a humble position with an attitude to serve, and focus not on the rice, but on loving the community. We'll be putting in our utmost effort to ensure that it'll be an opportunity for the church to unite and reconcile with one another."
For those who are interested, donations can be sent by mail to the office of the Council of Korean Churches in Southern California (981 S. Western Ave., #401, Los Angeles, CA 90006), or can be made online at scalckc.org.
