By: Oretha Bundoo Seh
The streets of Monrovia buzzed with energy and purpose on Sunday as Mary’s Meals Liberia joined thousands of runners in the annual Liberia Marathon this time with more than just fitness in mind.
The charity’s participation marked a vibrant highlight in its global “3 Million Smiles” campaign, celebrating the organization’s milestone of feeding over 3 million children daily across 16 countries, up from just 200 in 2002.
Clad in the iconic blue colors of Mary’s Meals, symbolizing hope and unity, team members ran and walked to raise awareness of the life-changing impact of school meals.
Their message was clear: no child should have to learn on an empty stomach.
At the heart of the celebration were creative outreach efforts. Volunteers handed out branded stickers, posed with fellow runners using selfie frames, and sparked conversations about the mission of Mary’s Meals.
“It was an inspiring experience,” said Menue Bainda, Communications Manager for Mary’s Meals Liberia.
“I had the chance to speak with runners about our impact and how they can support the program.
One valuable lesson I learned was how even simple branding can attract interest, without a big budget.”
Thomas Gbuka, HR Learning and Development Advisor, emphasized the broader purpose:
“Our presence here is about more than running. It’s about team building, networking, and spreading the word that Mary’s Meals feeds over 3 million children worldwide, including more than 90,000 right here in Liberia.”
With operations in five counties, Mary’s Meals Liberia is helping transform lives, one school meal at a time by encouraging enrollment, boosting focus in the classroom, and giving children a better chance at a brighter future.
As they crossed the finish line, Team Mary’s Meals proved that sometimes the most meaningful victories aren’t measured in minutes or medals, but in millions of smiles and full stomachs.
