People in Ayrshire are being asked to support a charity’s efforts to feed hungry children living in some of the world’s poorest countries.

Mary’s Meals is appealing for local volunteers to help raise awareness of the important work it does around the world.

Volunteers can give talks in the community, distribute promotional materials, organise fundraising events or help with bucket collections.

Supporter engagement manager at Mary’s Meals, Morven McGillivray, said: “We know that many people who would like to donate to Mary’s Meals may find that difficult to do this year with the cost of living crisis.

“It costs just 8p for us to provide a meal to a hungry child, so even the smallest of donations can make a huge difference.

“Volunteering is a wonderful way to get involved in our work. Every single thing that people do for our mission makes an enormous difference to the children who eat Mary’s Meals, allowing them to gain an education and look to a much brighter future.”

The charity serves nutritious school meals to more than two million children every school day in 20 countries including Malawi, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Yemen.

By serving a meal in a place of education, Mary’s Meals encourages chronically poor children into the classroom, where they receive an education that can, in the future, be their ladder out of poverty.

It costs the charity just £15.90 to feed a child for an entire school year, work that is only possible because of the many dedicated volunteers across the globe.

Today, the charity faces some of its greatest challenges in a world devastated by conflict, food insecurity and the cost of living crisis, but it is as committed as ever to its motto that ‘Hope Conquers Fear’.

For more information on how you can help, visit: marysmeals.org.uk/volunteer