Scotsman was at a pub in 1992 when he got the idea to help victims in war - torn areas . `` When I think of Mary 's Meals I think of it as a series of lots and lots of little acts of love , `` he says . A trip to deliver food , clothing and shelter led to a life 's work of helping others . After working in Malawi in 1994 , Magnus MacFarlane - Smith founded Mary 's Meals . Today , the charity provides free meals to more than 400,000 children in 40 countries .
Scotsman was at a pub in 1992 when he got the idea to help victims in war - torn areas . A trip to deliver food , clothing and shelter led to a life 's work of helping others . After working in Malawi in 1994 , Magnus MacFarlane - Smith founded Mary 's Meals . Today , the charity provides free meals to more than 400,000 children in 40 countries .