Entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden is urging people across the UK to support Mary’s Meals today on Random Acts of Kindness Day, Tuesday 17th of February 2026.
The longtime supporter has once again teamed up with the international school feeding charity, which began in a shed in the Highlands in 2002, to highlight how small change can make a significant difference.
Mary’s Meals provides a daily school meal to more than three million children in 16 countries including Ethiopia, Haiti and Yemen, encouraging children experiencing poverty into the classroom where they can gain an education.
Deborah said:
“It costs just 10p to feed a hungry child with Mary’s Meals, and just £19.15 for a full school year.
“How incredible is that?!
This Random Acts of Kindness Day is the perfect time to give a little to Mary’s Meals.
“Your kindness will ensure that children in some of the world’s poorest communities can learn and play on a full tummy, allowing them to be the happy children they were born to be.
“How often do you find 10p down the back of the sofa or hidden in your jacket pocket?
“It’s remarkable that that one coin can have such a substantial impact on a hungry child, giving them a nutritious meal in school on a day where they otherwise may not have had anything else to eat.”
The charity’s low cost model means it costs £19.15 to feed a child every school day for a full year, supported by volunteers both in the UK and overseas who help deliver meals and raise awareness.
Eleven year old Mickael from Madagascar has seen the difference a school meal can make.
Mickael said:
“What has changed in me since the school feeding started is that I am not hungry at school and I can focus during class.
“My favourite subject at school is mathematics and my favourite game is playing football because we compete between class, during the break.”
Deborah added:
“With your support, children like Mickael can reach their full potential.
“I’m delighted to be supporting Mary’s Meals, and stories of Mickael’s and three million children like him show that a little kindness really does go a long way!”
Dan McNally, Head of Grassroots Engagement at Mary’s Meals, said:
“We all know from Deborah’s role on Dragons’ Den that she knows the power of investment, and we’re incredibly thankful for her support as we invest in the future of children by providing them with nutritious meals and a chance to realise their potential.
“Random Acts of Kindness Day gives us the chance to reflect and take action to help those less fortunate than us.
“Mary’s Meals’ low cost model means even the smallest donation can have a life changing impact on hungry children.”
Founded by Magnus MacFarlane Barrow after a visit to Malawi during famine in 2002, the charity now works in some of the world’s poorest communities, with the promise of a meal helping children attend school.
For many families, that one daily meal provides not only nourishment but also hope of a brighter future.
