Why the gimmick? If you want to send some rice, send some rice.
When you play the game, ads go on the screen. The ad revenue pays for the rice, so the rice can't be sent unless the ads go on the screen, i.e. unless you play the game.
It only helps the poor a tiny, tiny bit, and I imagine it generates a fair amount of profit for the folks running the site. Overall a positive thing though, because it's at least doing something.