A vital safety net

I am always overjoyed to share stories of the children that we reach every day. I know how much joy a simple meal can bring. But for every story I can tell, there are so many I can’t. 

I would love to tell you more about our work in Lebanon, perhaps to tell you a story of a child who has been displaced from the familiarity of her home by the daily threat of bombing. A child whose parents had to make the agonising decision to uproot her in the hopes that she can survive this latest conflict. That child might now be living in Beirut, her parents collecting the food for displaced people which we are offering through our local partner. The food, a lifeline in unstable times. More than that: a little act of love from halfway across the world. A reminder that she has not been forgotten. 

I actually cannot tell you that story. In the current conflict, Mary’s Meals continues to work in Lebanon through our local partner, but the situation is so dangerous that they are unable to do any more than deliver the essentials of our programme. When the places where they learn are open, children line up each day for a nutritious meal. Where they are closed, our partner provides food within the community to ensure that children who are temporarily out of school can still get a healthy daily meal. Extra tasks, such as gathering stories for us to share with our supporters, are simply out of the question.

That’s what makes the work of Mary’s Meals so special. We will always go wherever we are needed most. Into the most challenging situations, so we can be a constant, in the otherwise chaotic lives of vulnerable children. Because of this, we often cannot share with you the details of these situations. But with this simple meal, we reassure them that we still believe in their future.

Let me introduce you to Ibtisam and her son Mohammed, who live in Aden, Yemen. Every afternoon, Ibtisam walks to the school gate to collect her seven-year-old son Mohammed. It is her favourite part of the day – watching him come out of school, full of energy, ready to tell her about his day. Behind this daily ritual lies a heavier story. Ibtisam is raising Mohammed alone, navigating Yemen’s severe economic crisis with very little to fall back on. After more than a decade of conflict and economic decline, nearly 20 million people still require humanitarian assistance, while millions struggle to access enough food. More than two million young children are acutely malnourished.*

“We live in a very difficult economic situation. The prices of basic food have gone up so much in Aden. I used to wake up with a heavy chest, constantly doing the maths in my head, wondering how I would afford to feed [my son] that day. We have very little financial cushioning if things get worse.”

Parents are facing rising food prices, limited income opportunities, and difficult choices every day – whether to buy food, medicine, or keep their children in school. Families are doing their best to cope, but difficult trade-offs have become a reality.

Mary’s Meals has changed that for Ibtisam. At school, Mohammed receives roti, cheese and fruit. No matter what happens, Ibtisam’s son won’t go hungry at school and the limited resources she does have can go further towards the other things Mohammed needs to grow and learn. 

Mary’s Meals provides a vital safety net for families in desperate situations. The promise of a daily school meal means parents know that their child will eat today – freeing up what little income or food they have to stretch further and meet other urgent needs. 

For Mohammed, the result is simple. He comes home happy, talking about his day – and lately, he cannot stop talking about the oranges. “They are sweet,” he says. “They make me feel energetic.” This small detail means everything to Ibtisam. Her son is well and he is free to just be a child. 

In places torn apart by conflict, a daily school meal represents comfort, stability and a reason to keep coming to school. It reminds a vulnerable child that their future is being carried in the hearts of many. And school meals are a lifeline that lasts. As conflict subsides, the programme provides a foundation for recovery – supporting education, strengthening communities and providing a sustainable solution to hunger in the long term.

We will always strive to share the stories of the children you help to feed. But the reality is that there are many, many children who rely on our nutritious meals, whose stories we will never hear. But by providing your support to them, your little acts of love serve as a reminder that they have not been forgotten.

Please donate today and help Mary’s Meals continue reaching the children who need them most – and bring hope to many more still waiting. 

Thank you.

Marie Doyle 
Executive Director, Mary’s Meals

*source: Integrated Food Security Phase Classification