My Nonprofit Reviews

I first heard about Mary's Meals while watching CNN Heroes, a yearly special that features 10 people from around the world who are making a difference in the lives of others. Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, the founder and CEO of Mary's Meals, definitely fits this description. Inspired by the work that he and Mary's Meals are doing, I decided to become a fundraiser and support their mission. Mary's Meals believes that every single child should be able to eat a meal every day, and that in a world of plenty, this is more than possible. My favorite aspect of Mary's Meals is how smart the organization's method is. Mary's Meals provides food for children, but the key is that they provide it in school. Thus, the children have to attend school to be fed. For those who are constantly battling hunger, food is an invaluable incentive. With the introduction of Mary's Meals, school attendance, test scores, and graduation rates have all sky-rocketed. In addition, Mary's Meals purchases its food from local farmers, so the local economy is supported, as well. Instead of viewing its mission as "swooping in and saving," Mary's Meals recognizes that change must stem from within the community itself. Thus, local volunteers and mothers put in the hours of work each day to prepare the meals, feed the children, and clean up afterwards. This is an incredibly smart and sustainable model!!! Currently, Mary's Meals feeds over 700,000 children every single day. PLEASE donate and help that number grow. It only takes $16.80 to feed a child for an entire school year. At a cost of six cents per meal, you really can make a difference in the lives of so many children.

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