Tag: Double The Love

Jean Johansson spreads ho-ho-hope with Mary’s Meals this Christmas

TV star teams up with international school meals charity to encourage families to bring hope to hungry children over the festive season

A Place in the Sun star Jean Johansson is encouraging parents across Scotland to leave out a Mary’s Meals gift card for Santa to deliver to a hungry child this Christmas, to help feed children in some of the world’s poorest countries.

Together with the international school meals charity, the Port Glasgow-raised presenter is inspiring parents to include a Mary’s Meals gift card when they traditionally leave treats and letters out for Father Christmas on 24 December, the idea being that Santa will then pass this on to a child in need.

Mary’s Meals, which was founded in a shed in Dalmally in the Highlands by founder Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, feeds more than 2.4 million children every school day in 18 countries including Haiti, Malawi and Syria. The promise of a nutritious meal encourages children into the classroom, so that instead of working or looking for food, they can gain an education and hope for a brighter future.

Mum of one, Jean, who recently landed a hosting role on This Morning, says: “Alongside milk and cookies, my son and I will be leaving out a Mary’s Meals gift card for Santa to pass on to a hungry child this year. These Christmas gift cards cost just £19.15 and will feed a child with Mary’s Meals for a whole school year.

“Christmas is a time for giving, and there is no better gift than the gift of hope for a hungry child. Mary’s Meals brings joy to children all year round, and these beautiful cards will allow you to give that joy in the form of a life-changing daily school meal.

“It’s also a great opportunity to introduce children to the idea of giving back at Christmas and showing them how they can help others at this special time of year.”

By purchasing a gift card from the Scotland-based charity, your support can have a huge impact on the life of a child, like Sushila, this Christmas.

Sushila lives in a rural part of Jharkhand, India. Her father died of a snake bite and her mother was unable to support Sushila without his income so she went to live with her grandparents.

Sushila has to walk 8km each way to school every day, but she is determined to keep studying. Sushila says: “There are many times when I don’t eat at home, so when I eat at school it gives me lots of energy and I feel great.

“I like to study and want to change my life, so the food is a big bonus.”

Dan McNally, Head of Grassroots Engagement, at Mary’s Meals says: “We’re so grateful to Jean for spreading ho-ho-hope this Christmas and helping us to reach the next hungry child waiting for Mary’s Meals.

“Our beautiful Christmas cards and gifts will not only put a smile on the faces of your friends, family and Santa Claus himself, but crucially, will change the lives of hungry children living in some of the world’s poorest countries.”

Gift cards, Christmas card packs and other festive gifts including mugs, dog bandanas and 2024 calendars are available to buy now from marysmeals.org.uk/shop.

Until 22 January 2024, donations made to Mary’s Meals will be doubled by a group of generous supporters, up to £1 million.

The charity is encouraging people to Double The Love this Christmas during this period so they can help Mary’s Meals to provide a nutritious daily meal in school for hungry children living in some of the world’s poorest countries.

To donate, visit marysmeals.org.uk.

Celebrity duo Scarlette and Stuart Douglas Double The Love with Mary’s Meals

Donations made to Mary’s Meals this winter will be matched, up to £1 million

TV stars and siblings, Scarlette and Stuart Douglas, are encouraging people across Scotland to support Mary’s Meals’ new appeal, Double The Love.  

From 22 November 2023 to 22 January 2024, all donations made to Mary’s Meals will be doubled by a group of generous supporters, up to a total of £1 million.

Funds raised will help to provide nutritious school meals for children in some of the world’s poorest countries including Malawi, Haiti and South Sudan.  

Popular double act Scarlette and Stuart are celebrating the launch of the campaign, which is a cause close to their hearts. Mary’s Meals, which was founded in a shed in Argyll, currently feeds more than 2.4 million hungry children every school day. The promise of a meal attracts these children into the classroom, so that instead of working or looking for food, they have the energy to learn.  

Scarlette, a campmate on the 2022 series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, says: “Stuart and I are so impressed by the incredible work of Mary’s Meals. To serve a daily school meal to 2.4 million children is an amazing feat, as is the fact that Mary’s Meals can feed a child for a whole school year for just £19.15. 

“And with Double The Love, £19.15 will feed two children for a school year, so there’s never been a better time to donate!” 

Stuart, who hosts Channel 4’s Worst House on the Street with Scarlette, added: “I have four children, so Mary’s Meals’ work resonates greatly with me; no child should go hungry. Mary’s Meals provides a daily school meal alongside an education, which is so important to give children a chance at a brighter future. 

“Double The Love gives everyone who donates the opportunity to have their kindness reach even more hungry children with Mary’s Meals, and that’s something we should all get behind!” 

Matt Barlow, Executive Director of Mary’s Meals, says: “Scarlette and Stuart know a thing or two about being a great double act, so I’m really grateful to them for backing our Double The Love appeal! 

“Mary’s Meals is built on so many little acts of kindness – from those volunteers in our programme countries who rise with the sun to cook and serve Mary’s Meals to their children, to those in the Scotland who support our work in so many incredible ways. By donating to Mary’s Meals this winter, your kindness can go even further in helping us to reach the next hungry child waiting for our nutritious school meals.” 

Double The Love runs until 22 January 2024. For more information please visit marysmeals.org.uk/double 

Fanta and Jebbah’s story 

Like Scarlette and Stuart, Fanta and Jebbah are a great double act. 

Fanta, 15, and Jebbah, 14, are best friends who met when they started to attend Quadafi School in Liberia. The girls are in sixth grade and are inseparable both in and outside of school. They dream of becoming doctors and helping people in their community, inspired by their mothers, both of whom are nurses. 

Every day, the girls walk for an hour to get to school on an empty stomach. When they arrive, they most often feel tired and sleepy because of the long distance they have walked. But after eating their portion of Mary’s Meals, the girls have the energy to learn and enjoy school with their classmates. 

Thanks to Mary’s Meals’ incredible supporters, Fanta and Jebbah are able to gain an education and work toward their dreams of a future where they can help to lift their community out of poverty.