School feeding programs are widely recognized as a cost-effective way to tackle poverty by addressing the immediate needs of hungry children and contributing to the long-term development of their communities. We conduct research annually to show the ongoing impact of our work.
This 2025 report adds to our evidence that providing a nutritious daily meal in a place of learning is one of the most practical ways to support children facing hunger, encouraging them to attend school and giving them energy to concentrate and actively participate in class. The report also shows that Mary's Meals delivers consistent school meals that reduce hunger, boost wellbeing, and support household resilience while also laying the foundations for long-term change through education in places of greatest need.
Key metrics to track keeping our promise in 2025
91%
CONSISTENCY OF DELIVERY
We provided meals on 91% of school days.
400M+
MEALS SERVED
We served over 400,883,000 meals.
50:50
GENDER PARITY
Just over half (50.6%) of our meals were served to girls.
94%
CONCENTRATION
Before the meal, 40% of children reported that they can concentrate well in school. This increased to 94% after the meal was served.
97%
FOCUS
Before the meal, teachers reported that only 12% of children were focused in the classroom. After the meal, this increased to 97%.
“When I used to miss school, I would fall behind and my grades went down. That doesn’t happen anymore. I want to become a teacher, and going to school will help me achieve that dream.”
Gugulethu, student in Zimbabwe
Reaching those who need it most
2025 was our largest year of growth.
3M
CHILDREN REACHED
650,000+
CHILDREN JOINED OUR PROGRAM
We worked alongside communities to provide consistent, nutritious meals to children in over 6,400 schools across 16 countries. We expanded programs in Ethiopia, Haiti, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, South Sudan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
SDGs Contributions
Mary's Meals contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a collection of 17 interconnected global goals established by the United Nations in 2015, designed as a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all" by 2030.
The power of school meals
Our school feeding programs do more than simply provide food. Locally procured school meals delivered at scale provide an integrated approach to improving outcomes for children, their families, and communities. School meal programs are recognized as one of the most cost-effective interventions available, addressing immediate hunger while strengthening educational outcomes, improving health, and contributing to broader social equity and long-term economic development through strong partnerships.
Every school day, beyond the mugs and bowls that we fill, by reliably serving a daily meal in a place of education, our programs directly benefit children’s education and wellbeing; provide a social safety net for families and households; and support community social cohesion and system strengthening.
Read the full story
Help write next year's impact story
This year we reached more than 3 million children. With your support, we can reach even more.