Mary’s Meals fundraiser smashes £1,000 target four months early

January 2024

The charity Mary’s Meals is set to be £1,000 better off thanks to the fundraising efforts of an 11-year-old school pupil.

Michael, who attends St Thomas More Catholic Academy in Nuneaton and is an altar server at St Anne’s and St Joseph’s parish, has raised almost £800 for Mary’s Meals. He is aiming to raise £1,000 before his 12th birthday in June.

Mary’s Meals serves nutritious school meals to children living in some of the world’s poorest countries and is currently feeding more than 2.4m children every school day.

Michael was spurred into action after watching a video about Mary’s Meals last summer.

Linda Glover, Michael’s Abuela (Spanish for Grandma) said: “Michael felt quite sad seeing the orphaned and poor children who would go without food for days, begging for food and eating out of bins. 

“It really touched him and he felt he had to do something. 

“That evening he did some graffiti art, which I helped to colour in with him and he also wrote a poem. 

“Inspired by sales of his graffiti art he worked all summer with cake sales, talks, fundraising at school and most recently Christmas craft fairs. His teachers are really supporting him at school by doing fundraising every half term with various events planned by his classmates. 

“To date Michael has raised almost £800 and his goal is to reach £1,000 before his 12th birthday in June.

“Michael keeps going. He says no child should be hungry anywhere in the world. They need our help.” 

Last month, in December, Michael was a guest of honour at a Mary’s Meals Christmas concert in Birmingham, along with charity founder Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow and Archbishop Bernard Longley.

A video of Michael reading his poem was also broadcast on the night.

Michael said: “I have really enjoyed raising money for charity and helping others.”

Hannah Moore, Supporter Engagement Officer at Mary’s Meals, said: “We’re so thankful to Michael for his incredible fundraising. Seeing young people like Michael get behind our mission is so inspiring as they strive to help the children we serve every school day.

“It costs just £19.15 to feed a child with Mary's Meals every day for a school year. If Michael hits his £1,000 target, his incredible efforts will ensure over 50 children will receive a nutritious meal every day for the whole school year.

“And during our Double The Love appeal, which runs until 31 January, any gift you give will be doubled by a group of generous supporters, up to £1.1 million, meaning your generosity will go twice as far.”

Find out more about Mary’s Meals