Scottish oats company, Stoats, has been announced as the official partner for World Porridge Day 2016, which takes place on Monday, October 10.

A celebration of Scotland’s traditional dish, World Porridge Day supports Mary’s Meals, raising awareness of the charity’s work and generating funds to feed needy children in schools in Malawi.

To support the initiative Stoats is encouraging people to get involved throughout September and October and pledge support via their social campaign #PorridgeSmiles, to raise a smile and raise funds for Mary’s Meals. The oats company is also donating 20% of all online porridge sales throughout September and October.

Mary’s Meals sets up school feeding programmes in some of the world’s poorest communities to help combat chronic hunger and encourage children to attend school and gain an education that could free them from poverty.

Managing director at Stoats, Tony Stone said: “We are extremely proud to be the official partner for World Porridge Day 2016. As an oats company, we know a thing or two about porridge so it’s great to be part of the celebration and to be contributing to such a worthwhile cause. To help spread the message, #PorridgeSmiles will feature on our packs in stores during September and October.

“Porridge is a traditional, well-loved national dish in Scotland and this initiative is something that is very close to our hearts. We want to spread #PorridgeSmiles far and wide and encourage people to get involved, at home or with work colleagues, and have some fun raising smiles and raising money.”

Hannah Stewart, Head of Fundraising at Mary’s Meals, said: “It’s great that Stoats has come on board this year as our official partner for World Porridge Day and we can’t wait to see what people come up with for #PorridgeSmiles on social media.

“Mary’s Meals is currently reaching more than 880,000 children in Malawi with a daily mug of fortified porridge in school. World Porridge Day and the #PorridgeSmiles campaign makes it easy for anyone to make a hungry child smile with porridge and help them work towards a better future.”

Stoats is encouraging people to get creative with their porridge toppings, make a smiley face and post a picture on their social channels with the hashtag #PorridgeSmiles as well as texting ‘OATS16 £2’ to 70070 to provide a hungry child with meals in school for a month. People can also have their #PorridgeSmiles photo featured in the World Porridge Day Hall of Fame by emailing worldporridgeday@marysmeals.org.

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