Feeding hope: How we can change lives

I can trace the beginning of my story with Mary’s Meals back to 1984, almost two decades before the charity was founded. That year, I visited a small village and pilgrimage site in Bosnia and Herzegovina, called Medjugorje.

I'd read it was an incredible place and felt a spiritual calling to go. I fell in love with Medjugorje and have visited regularly ever since.

One year, during the blessing of the new Mary's Meals information centre in Medjugorje, I found myself next to the charity’s founder, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow.

I was already aware of the charity's work, and as we both stood in silence to receive a blessing from a Scottish bishop, I felt a deeper calling to Mary's Meals.

Mary’s Meals was founded in the Scottish Highlands in 2002. The charity provides daily school meals to more than three million children in 16 countries. These children often face extreme poverty and daily hunger, with nothing to eat at home.

The meals bring children into the classroom, providing them with food, an education and hope for a brighter future.

The more I discovered about Mary’s Meals, the more I was passionate to get involved. I have since fundraised, volunteered and become an ambassador for its work.

I am also a dedicated beekeeper, becoming a regular face in my community for turning sales of honey into donations. I love counting my impact by the jar, knowing that every three jars I sell, I can help change another young life; incredibly, it costs only £19.15 to feed a child for a full year with Mary’s Meals.

The charity’s low-cost approach is only possible because of many dedicated volunteers across the globe – from people in the UK who raise awareness, to those overseas who rise early to cook nutritious meals for their children.

Locally produced food is served wherever possible. This supports the community and its farmers, as well as the wider economy.

My husband and I had always given to charity but were inspired to create a longer lasting impact. We committed to giving a regular gift to Mary’s Meals and at a cost of just 10p a meal, our monthly donation has provided thousands of meals for hungry children over the last 10 years.

A regular gift provides stability in some of the world’s poorest communities and gives the charity the best possible chance of reaching more children. Even small donations can make a huge difference to those in need.

I feel that helping children grow and learn is one of the most beautiful things we can do. It’s been a blessing to make a positive difference.

Throughout August, Mary’s Meals is tripling the first three donations from new regular gifts. This is thanks to a generous donor who is matching all new regular gifts or increased values from existing givers up to the value of £250,000.

If you have ever thought about making a lasting impact, this could be the perfect opportunity.

Marie Langford

Mary's Meals supporter and volunteer