Mary’s Meals celebrates milestone as more than 1.5 million children fed in schools

By Douglas Barrie, Reporter30th July 2019News ScotlandCharities, Child Poverty, Food Poverty, News Scotland, Poverty / Austerity

A Scottish charity is celebrating a milestone with more than 1.5 million children being provided meals at school.

Mary’s Meals began in 2002 after being founded in a shed in Dalmally, Argyll, and originally fed 200 children in Malawi.

Latest figures from the charity show 1,504,471 children are now being fed in 18 countries across the world including Haiti, South Sudan and Syria.

Founder Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow said: “This wonderful milestone gives us an opportunity to celebrate and give thanks to every single person who supports Mary’s Meals – from those fundraising around the UK to those volunteering to cook and serve meals to the hungry children in their own communities.

“Each one of them plays a crucial part in our mission – a mission that has only just begun given how many children remain hungry and out of school in the world today.”

Since January, the number of children receiving Mary’s Meals at school each day has risen by more than 5% – equating to an additional 79,458 youngsters.