Significant Support from the People’s Postcode Lottery
In a remarkable development, players of the People’s Postcode Lottery in Devon have raised over £7 million for the charity Mary’s Meals, which provides nutritious meals to children in need. This funding has enabled 478,968 children to receive meals every school day across various countries.
Mary’s Meals has served more than 39 million meals to date, impacting children in 16 countries including Mozambique, Ethiopia, Syria, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Zambia, Madagascar, and South Sudan. The charity feeds over 3 million children daily, with half of those receiving meals being girls.
A Decade of Partnership
The decade-long partnership between Mary’s Meals and the People’s Postcode Lottery has been instrumental in expanding the charity’s reach. Funding from lottery players has directly supported operations in multiple countries, allowing Mary’s Meals to reach more children than ever before.
Gemma Love, a representative from Mary’s Meals, expressed gratitude for the ongoing support, stating, “We are incredibly grateful to People’s Postcode Lottery players in Devon, whose ongoing support is helping us reach more children than ever before with a daily school meal that encourages learning, brings hope and changes lives.” This sentiment is echoed by Laura Chow, who highlighted the significance of the players’ contributions: “It’s fantastic to know that for a decade our players have supported the essential work of Mary’s Meals- and have now raised an incredible £7 million to help children across the globe access nutritious meals.”
The impact of these meals is profound. Efigénia, a child benefiting from the program, shared her experience: “With school meals, I feel good because even with a lack of food at home, here at school I have a meal and I can study.” This illustrates the critical role that school meals play in not only providing nutrition but also fostering educational opportunities.
Looking Ahead
As the partnership continues, Mary’s Meals aims to reach an additional 462,000 children by early 2025. The ongoing support from the People’s Postcode Lottery players is vital in achieving this goal, with players having raised more than £950 million for over 9,000 charities and good causes since 2005.
The commitment to providing meals and supporting education remains strong, with hopes to inspire further contributions and expand the reach of this essential service. Seeing the difference this support makes for children and communities inspires us to keep going and to reach even more children in the years ahead, as stated by Gemma Love.
Mary’s Meals began in a shed in the Scottish Highlands, and its growth into a global initiative underscores the power of community support through initiatives like the People’s Postcode Lottery.
