MARY’S Meals is a charity that serves life-changing school meals to children in some of the world’s poorest communities, across 16 countries.

The promise of a good meal attracts these hungry children into the classroom, giving them the energy to learn and hope for a better future.

But with the impact of conflict, climate change and the global cost-of-living crisis creating growing challenges for families in these communities, our work is now more urgent than ever.

That’s why I’m asking your readers to consider doing something powerful – setting up a regular gift to Mary’s Meals today.

Until May 31, a generous donor will triple your first three monthly donations. This means if you sign up to give £5 a month, your donation will be increased to £15. With the price of a meal costing just 10p, a £5 monthly donation would feed 50 children every month, and 150 children a month for the first three months!

Regular gifts are the foundation of our work. They help us expand our programmes to reach the next hungry child waiting for Mary’s Meals, and ensure we keep our promise to the children who rely on us – like 11-year-old Grace from Zimbabwe.

Grace lives with her 83-year-old great-grandmother, Elly, who struggles to provide food due to the ongoing drought across the region. Grace often arrives at school tired and hungry, but she knows she’ll receive a hot mug of porridge when she gets there. It gives her the energy to learn and the confidence to dream.

“I can concentrate better. I can read more when my tummy is full,” she says. “When I’m older, I want to be a teacher.”

Elly adds: “Everyone is happy about the porridge. It’s the biggest difference I’ve seen in this community.”

Grace is just one of the 2.6 million children who will eat Mary’s Meals today. But too many children are still waiting. Please help us reach them by setting up a monthly donation – through Direct Debit or your employer’s payroll scheme, and together we can give more children the food they need, the chance to learn, and the prospect of a better tomorrow.

Please visit marysmeals.org.uk to find out more about the work of Mary’s Meals.

Marie Doyle

Executive Director

Mary’s Meals UK