Changing the story together: how your monthly donations can help Mary’s Meals go further

However you choose to play a part in our work – by donating, sponsoring a fundraiser, or even launching your own fundraising initiative; by reading The Shed That Fed 2 Million Children or giving a copy as a gift; by talking to others about Mary’s Meals or praying for our work – everyone can bring their own unique contribution to this vital mission to serve nutritious meals to children in their place of education.

Our grassroots movement of volunteers, supporters, and fundraisers is a powerful driving force that helps to make amazing things happen. Those individuals, and the generous gifts they give, play a vital role in helping us to keep our promise to the millions of children who already rely on our meals. Their steadfast support also allows us to make plans to extend our reach so that even more children – many of whom have no food at home – can look forward to receiving daily meals in school.

One of the most impactful ways you can support our work is by signing up to become a monthly donor. Monthly donations help us to:

Keep our promise

A consistent and reliable flow of donations is the bedrock of our income because it enables us to feel confident about keeping our promise to the children we serve. Our commitment to providing nutritious daily meals not only lessens the worry of schoolchildren who have very little food at home but also provides a social safety net for families made vulnerable by poverty, climate change, or conflict.

Grow and respond

When supporters commit to giving monthly donations, it helps to inform our decisions to expand the reach of our program, edging us ever closer to our vision 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.

During a crisis or when needs unexpectedly shift, monthly donations mean our teams can start planning immediately. Urgent problematic events – such as the Covid-19 pandemic – are incredibly hard to anticipate, and being able to plan in this way means we can focus on the agility of the school feeding program in the area in question, and our ability to pivot and react in times of great need, rather than considering whether we can keep it running when circumstances out of our control change.

Learn and innovate

Monthly donations allow us to learn more about our program and be innovative. Our teams are always on the lookout for more environmental and inclusive ways to deliver school feeding, and a regular source of income helps us to ensure our processes – such as localized food procurement and improving the sustainability of our program – are as effective as they can be.

Maintain our program

Thanks to sustained support, we are able to carry out essential maintenance of our program such as replacing stoves and mugs when necessary. This is particularly important in some countries where our school feeding program has been running for a long time, for example in Malawi where we have been serving children for more than 20 years.

What do you get in return?

As a monthly donor you’ll be invited into The Story – an exclusive group for monthly donors. Being a part of this group gives you early access to Mary’s Meals content through The Next Chapter, a monthly email newsletter. As a recipient of The Next Chapter, you’ll be the first to know about exciting news and updates from Mary’s Meals as thanks for your continued support.

Putting hope on the menu with Mary’s Meals

One of the most beautiful parts of Mary’s Meals is people coming together, offering whatever they can – time, resources, or prayers – to bring much-needed school meals to some of the world’s poorest children. We understand that not everyone is in a position to sign up for a monthly donation and we appreciate each and every gift and effort towards our work. But for those who decide to give in this way, we have tried to make the process as simple as possible.

How to sign up to give a monthly donation

Visit our website here and you will be directed to begin your donation journey. A contribution of any size is transformative! However you choose to support our work, thank you.