UK: Pupils package 7,500 meals to be shipped to Zimbabwe under ‘Million Meals Miracle’ initiative

By sthelensstar.co.uk

A PRIMARY school has joined forces with a local Rotary club for a ‘Million Meals Miracle’ initiative, which has been described as “nothing short of amazing”.

Working alongside the Feed The Hungry charity and Newton-le-Willows Rotary Club, Wargrave primary school pupils have been busy making and packing nutritionally balanced rice meals that will be shipped all the way to Zimbabwe.

With the Million Meal Miracle aiming to engage 200 schools in meal-packing events, the prepared meals will be dispatched to trusted partners in Zimbabwe and Somaliland, and distributed to provide essential warm meals to children in schools and orphanages.

Over the next two years, Feed The Hungry is aiming to pack 1,000,000 meals, and Wargrave, which recently celebrated its 180th anniversary with a special event, have managed to create an astounding 7,576 meals.

Wargrave staff explains that every single meal represents “hope, nourishment, and care from our little corner of the world reaching families who need it most”.

Speaking about the initiative, headteacher Amanda Epstein said: “Watching our pupils work has been absolutely magical. Their faces lit up as they carefully measured rice, sealed packets, and stacked boxes.

“They understood they weren’t just following instructions – they were part of something much bigger than themselves.

“The focus and dedication they showed was remarkable, and I couldn’t help but feel emotional seeing their genuine desire to help others.”

With a “fantastic” partnership with the Newton Rotary Club, their volunteers shared stories and explained to the pupils how these meals will travel thousands of miles to reach families in Zimbabwe.

Epstein added: “It’s brought a real-world connection to our learning about global citizenship and community responsibility.

“What strikes me most is how this project has shown our pupils that they can make a tangible difference, regardless of their age.

“They’ve learned that small actions, when multiplied by many hands, create something extraordinary. The arithmetic is simple – but the impact is profound.

“This initiative perfectly captures what we’re about at Wargrave. We’re not just teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic within these walls. We’re nurturing compassionate young people who understand their place in the wider world and their power to create positive change.”

“As these meals make their journey to Zimbabwe, they carry with them the love, care, and hope of every single person who helped create them. Our pupils should feel incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved.

“They’ve shown that even the youngest members of our community can contribute to solving global challenges.

“I’m so grateful to everyone who made this possible – our wonderful pupils, dedicated staff, and our partners at Rotary  Newton-le-Willows and Feed The Hungry charity.”