Giving Tuesday 2025- Help Us Feed Hungry Children

Mary’s Meals has reached a major milestone: the expansion of its school feeding program from 2.6 million to 3 million children each day. These meals are served in over 5,800 schools across 16 countries. This achievement comes at a critical time, as reductions in international aid make community-led solutions like Mary’s Meals more essential than ever.

Mary’s Meals delivers daily school meals through local partnerships and community-run programs—at a cost of just $25.20 per child per school year. By feeding children where they learn, Mary’s Meals meets their immediate need for food while supporting access to education—a proven path out of poverty.

This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to join our mission and help us reach even more hungry children. And for every dollar you give, a generous donor will match your donation with an additional two dollars—TRIPLING THE IMPACT OF YOUR GIFT!  

Mary’s Meals Founder and CEO, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, notes, “We invite every person of goodwill to join the Mary’s Meals movement so that our vision – that every child in this world receives one daily meal in their place of education – might be realized. Whilst it is an amazing thing that this work has grown to reach three million children, the sad reality is that tens of millions of children remain hungry and out of school. Today, in a world in which we produce more than enough food for us all, thousands of children will die of hunger-related causes. And yet it costs Mary’s Meals just $25.20 to feed a child for a whole school year.”

Why Giving Tuesday Matters  

Every year, Giving Tuesday offers a unique chance for people to support causes they believe in. For Mary’s Meals, Giving Tuesday is a day filled with hope and opportunity. We are blessed by the generosity of our supporters who help us reach more than 3 million children with a nutritious daily meal at school.  This year we invite existing supporters and those who have just discovered our life-changing work to consider making a donation.

Giving Tuesday is more than just a day, it’s a global movement of generosity that inspires people to make a positive impact. It gives us the opportunity to expand our reach to more schools and communities where children desperately need a reliable meal.  

Hunger is one of the biggest barriers to education, and without adequate nourishment, children can’t focus, learn, or dream. But for just $25.20, we can provide school meals for a child for an entire year, allowing them to come to school, engage in their studies, and build a future filled with possibility. 

The Impact of a Daily School Meal 

Mary’s Meals 2024 Impact Report highlights the wide-ranging benefits of school meals, linking consistent nutrition in educational settings to improvements in children’s health, growth, and learning outcomes. It also emphasizes the broader community impact—reducing hunger, increasing school attendance, and strengthening local collaboration. Notably, 100% of teachers reported that the program had a positive influence on the quality of education this year, citing improvements in attendance, participation, focus, lesson retention, pass rates, and a reduction in sickness and absenteeism.

Students who once faced chronic hunger are now thriving, driven by a sense of hope and purpose. They dream of becoming doctors, teachers, engineers—visions that are possible because someone chose to give. Each of these stories is a testament to the life-changing power of a single meal, provided with love and compassion. 

How You Can Help on Giving Tuesday 

Supporting Mary’s Meals on Giving Tuesday can be done in several ways, all of which make a meaningful difference: 

Donate – a direct donation through our website is the simplest and most impactful way to support our work. Every dollar raised on Giving Tuesday goes directly toward providing meals for children who need them most, helping us to reach even more children. And with our generous donor matching every dollar with an additional two dollars, means that you triple the impact!  

Set up a fundraiser – some of our supporters choose to start their own fundraising campaigns in honor of Giving Tuesday. By sharing your passion for Mary’s Meals with your friends, family, and community, can multiply the impact of your support and help us reach even more children with life-changing school meals. 

Spread the word – we encourage you to help spread the word about Mary’s Meals on social media using the hashtag #GivingTuesday or with your friends and family. Telling others why you support our mission can help us reach new supporters who are inspired to make a difference. 

Be Part of the Movement for Change 

Giving Tuesday reminds us of the strength and kindness that exists in our global community. When you support Mary’s Meals, you’re not only feeding a child for a day, you’re standing alongside us to say that every child deserves the opportunity to learn and grow without the weight of hunger. 

This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to be part of something truly transformative. Together, we can build a world where every child has the nourishment they need to succeed.