The Students’ Union and College Liturgy Group at St Mary's University College adopted Mary’s Meals Backpack Project for their Christmas mission, with the motto "Every child deserves an education - and enough to eat."

Mary’s Meals is a global movement supported by people from many walks of life and different backgrounds. It was founded after a young child, Edward, said his wish was to attend school and have enough to eat. Mary's Meals provides a simple meal in a place of education to enable children to attend school and, through education, to escape the cycle of poverty. Currently Mary's Meals are feeding over 1.5 million children in some of the poorest regions in the world. It costs only £13.90 to feed a child for a full year.

Students and staff were encouraged to donate to the Mary's Meals Chirstmas Gift Card scheme and also to become involved with the Mary’s Meals Backpack Project by donating a backpack filled with basic learning tools, such as pencils and notebooks. For many, a Mary's Meals backpack will be the only gift they will have ever had.

There was a tremendous response and the campaign received enormous support from the College community. A total of £336.46 has been raised to date, which will feed around twenty-four hungry children, thanks to the generosity of students, staff and friends.

Mary's Meals will gratefully accept donations for both initiatives all year.