MANILA, Philippines - Inspired by the popular Ice Bucket Challenge that went viral on social media last month, a socially relevant version is now making waves in India.
The Rice Bucket Challenge encourages people to donate rice to poor families in “bucket or packet” form.
Pioneering the Rice Bucket Challenge in the Philippines is Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong, the producer and distributor of Dona Maria premium rice varieties. He launched his own version of the Rice Bucket Challenge in a call for the more fortunate Filipinos to help the less fortunate, most especially those who live below the poverty line and lack the stable means to meet the basic staple needs.
The beneficiaries are the families that consume less than the amount of food needed on a daily basis and experience anywhere from moderate to severe hunger.
The objective of the “Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong Rice Bucket Challenge” is to give the gift of health by giving away highly nutritious, full of antioxidants, fiber-rich brown rice to feed underprivileged Filipino families that are most prone to malnutrition.
To kick off the Rice Bucket Challenge, Lim announced during his birthday last Sept. 4, that he would give rice buckets to 5,000 poor families.
Lim also gave all employees of Sterling Paper Group of Companies a packet of brown rice each and subsequently challenged them to participate in the Rice Bucket Challenge by giving a packet of rice to the most needy in their neighborhood, share a picture of the deed on Facebook (one need not show one’s face) with the hash tag #RiceBucketChallengeph, and inviting as many friends to like the picture and encourage them to do the same by posting “How to Participate.”
Every year thereafter, on his birth month, Lim has pledged to repeat the undertaking. Last Friday, an initial 100 poor families received a five-kilo bucket of Doña Maria Brown Rice.
“Many of our fellow Filipinos are poor and hardly have enough to buy rice. How much more partake of brown rice that is rich in fiber, calcium, potassium, B-complex and manganese that are all essential for a healthy body?” said Lim.
“A lack in nutrition may result to a weak labor and workforce. We hope to start the awareness that such nutritious rice is very much within reach to everyone,” he said.
Lim wants to change the notion that brown rice is “dirty rice” or “the poor man’s rice.” “The truth is, brown rice is now being eaten by health-conscious showbiz personalities and the rich, primarily due to its tremendous health benefits.”
“Brown rice is also ideal for breastfeeding mothers. It is a super food that can equip new mothers with adequate milk supply. It keeps the mother’s energy levels up and provides the calories needed to make the best-quality milk for the baby”, according to Lim.
“I enjoin everyone to participate in the Rice Bucket Challenge. It only takes sharing a packet or a bucket of rice from one’s very own kitchen. Giving even just a kilo of rice would mean the world to the poor, starving families. No amount of sharing is too small and no matter how humble it may seem, the concerted effort of many can be a gigantic leap towards easing the hunger of our fellow Filipinos. Not just a drop in the bucket. This single drop when simultaneously done by many can have the ripple effect, making an ocean of difference,” Lim said.