The Hebridean Baker, Coinneach MacLeod, is encouraging school pupils across Scotland to donate just 10p to help feed hungry children around the world, one cup of porridge at a time.
The campaign, Pocket Money for Porridge, is run by the international school feeding charity Mary’s Meals in partnership with Inner Wheel.
It asks teachers and schools to organise collections where children can bring in small donations.
Just 10p is enough to provide a hot, nutritious meal to a child living in poverty.
Coinneach MacLeod, known to millions online as the Hebridean Baker is backing the initiative this October and says porridge has never been more powerful.
“It’s incredible that something as humble as my favourite breakfast, porridge oats can do so much good,” he said.
“Filling a hungry child’s tummy and opening the door to learning, that’s the wonderful work of Mary’s Meals.
“I’d love for kids in classrooms in Scotland to support Mary’s Meals throughout October by bringing 10p to class, which can stop a child going hungry.”
Mary’s Meals currently provides meals to more than three million children every school day across 16 countries.
In countries like Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, that meal is often a vitamin-enriched porridge that helps children stay healthy, concentrate in class, and stay in school.
Sally Davidson, Supporter Engagement Officer at Mary’s Meals, said the campaign is a chance for pupils here to be heroes for others their age who face hunger daily.
“Just 10p can change the world,” she said.
“We can serve a school meal to a hungry child for that tiny amount, and we want pupils here to help this October.
“There’s never been a better time to make the power of porridge go even further.”
For Ivy, a pupil at Nansato Primary School in Malawi, that daily porridge is life-changing.
“Porridge gives me enough energy to learn better,” she said.
“After eating porridge, I actively take part in class and the porridge keeps me healthy.
“If there was no porridge at school, it could have been difficult for me to understand what the teachers teach due to hunger.”
Schools can sign up for the Pocket Money for Porridge campaign via the Mary’s Meals website, and are encouraged to take part throughout the month of October.
Mary’s Meals says the campaign helps children here connect with others across the globe and offers a simple but powerful way to talk about hunger, fairness and the impact of generosity.
