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learn about Mary's meals
Mary's Meals is a 501c3 International Charity. The charity runs feeding programs at schools in the worlds poorest countries. Our vision is that every child receives one daily meal in their place of education and that all those who have more than they need, share with those who lack even the most basic things. Our mission is to enable people to offer their money, goods, skills, time, or prayer, and through this involvement, provide the most effective help to those suffering the effects of extreme poverty in the world's poorest communities. The Mary’s Meals campaign was born in 2002 when Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, from Scotland, visited Malawi during a famine and met a mother dying from AIDS. When Magnus asked her eldest son Edward what his dreams were in life, he replied simply: “I want to have enough food to eat and to go to school one day.” That moment was a key part of the inspiration which led to the founding of Mary’s Meals, which began by feeding just 200 children in Malawi in 2002. Today, 18 years later, we feed 1,667,067 hungry children every school day across five continents, in 19 countries including Malawi, Liberia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, Haiti, South Sudan, Romania, Syria, Thailand and India. The average worldwide cost for us to feed a child for a whole school year is just $21.00. Where Mary’s Meals is provided, there is a rise in school enrollment, attainment and attendance. Wherever possible, Mary's Meals uses locally grown food to support the local economy and help smallholder farmers. We work extremely hard to keep our running costs low and to ensure that at least 93% of donations goes directly on our charitable activities. This is only possible because most of our work is done by an army of dedicated volunteers – including more than 80,000 in Malawi alone – who carry out lots of little acts of love on behalf of Mary’s Meals.
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a lenten message frommary's meals
A Brief Thought: Are you hungry? Today, Ash Wednesday, some of us might be hungry because we are fasting to begin our Lenten observance. Maybe Lent awakens that spiritual hunger we have, especially after a tough 2020, to seek God and grow in our faith. As I come up on my one year anniversary of joining Mary’s Meals, hunger has taken on a new meaning. Let’s take these next 40 days to feed that hunger that we have by doing what we can to fast, give alms, and pray. Let us pray and remain in solidarity with the children of Mary’s Meals who feel that hunger when they are not receiving their daily meals, and for those in Ethiopia just struggling to survive.
Here are a few updates for you:
· Lent: I have attached a few prayer cards and a little MM Prayer Challenge in case they are helpful in your schools, churches or with your own families. We also have a “Porridge Pack” Resource (similar to the CRS Rice Bowl) that can be adapted for families and groups large or small. (PRAYER CARDS CAN BE ACCESSED BY CLICKING ON THE PHOTO TO THE LEFT TITLED "LENTEN PRAYER CHALLENGE")
· Ethiopia: I’m sure you’ve seen some of the emergency appeal emails regarding the dire situation in Ethiopia. I know it is not receiving much news coverage here in the US, but click here to hear a message from Magnus and an update. “Though traumatised themselves, our courageous colleagues have been able to distribute food parcels to around 3,000 people. These people, who had to flee their homes with nothing, are sheltering in school buildings and enduring horrendous conditions while violence continues across the region.”
· Program Country Updates: COVID is still very present in the 19 countries where we feed. We ARE expanding our reach, currently feeding beyond the 1.6 Million children and we’ll get more good news soon about that number. Attached is a PDF of an update in all of our countries as of this week. Below are the snap shots for Liberia, Malawi, Zambia and Kenya, where many of you sponsor schools.
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- Liberia: The school feeding program is now operating as normal
- Malawi: Schools are currently closed but community distribution is continuing
- Kenya: Schools are open and feeding as usual, including the Early Childhood Development centers.
- Zambia: Schools are open and school feeding is occurring, following government guidelines.
*Please know that the reality on the ground can change any day, and while feeding is occurring, many operations such as school visits and reporting may still be impacted.
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