Join Scotland’s national chef for a virtual Christmas dinner

Gary Maclean is supporting the Mary’s Meals Big Family Christmas fundraiser

Gary Maclean is inviting Scots to join Mary’s Meals supporters from around the world for a virtual Christmas dinner. 

The National Chef of Scotland supports Big Family Christmas, a unique fundraiser that will feed children living in the world’s poorest countries with Mary’s Meals. 

He says: “As Scotland’s national chef, it goes without saying that I love a Christmas get-together with my family and good food. This year, we’ll be tucking into a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings. And of course, I’ll be cooking!

“It may well be a bus man’s holiday – but I know how lucky I am. That’s why I always take part in Mary’s Meals’ Big Family Christmas fundraiser.” 

Mary’s Meals serves school meals to more than 2.2 million hungry children in some of the world’s poorest countries, including Kenya, Haiti and Yemen. The promise of food attracts them into the classroom where they can gain an education and hope for the future.   

For just £15.90, enough to feed a child with Mary’s Meals for a whole school year, people can join the Big Family Christmas. They will receive a certificate to print at home and their name, or the name of a loved one, will appear on the charity’s virtual dinner table – alongside the names of thousands of supporters from across the world. 

More than 46,000 people from around the world have taken part in Big Family Christmas since it launched in 2015. 

Gary continues: “Setting a place at Mary’s Meals’ virtual dinner table has become a Christmas tradition for me, my family and many thousands of Mary’s Meals supporters around the world. 

“Together, we are bringing hope to millions of little ones with the promise of a daily school meal. My Christmas wish is that people across Scotland will join me by setting their own place this festive season.” 

Donations made to Mary’s Meals before 31 January 2023 will be matched by a group of generous supporters, up to £1.5 million, thanks to the Double The Love campaign, meaning that each place set at the online Christmas table will feed two hungry children. 

To find out more, visit marysmeals.org.uk