Mar. 4: Mary’s Meals

When Scottish famine relief worker Magnus MacFarlane Barrow traveled to Malawi in 2002, a child he met there told him that his only wish—and by extension, the wish of most children—was “to have enough food to eat and to go to school one day.”

That encounter, coupled with his desire to follow Jesus’ command to feed the hungry, led Barrow to create Mary’s Meals.  The Scottish-based organization feeds over 500,000 people in 16 poor countries including Kenya, Malawi, Sudan and Haiti.  It often concentrates on providing meals to preschoolers who are particularly vulnerable to hunger-related diseases.

As reported in the National Catholic Register, Barrow’s efforts now include drought-stricken areas of Africa.  He says, “The situation in east Africa has become increasingly desperate, with failed rains leading to dire food and water shortages.”

Through one man’s initiative and Christ-like compassion, there are less starving children in the world.  Foster that same kind of initiative and compassion in your life.

I will abundantly bless its provisions; I will satisfy its poor with bread.  (Psalm 132:15)