Whatever You Did for the Least of These...

One of Our Priorities

Something many schools do not have to worry about is the nutritional needs of their students. But at Imani School, we have to make this one of our priorities.

Many of our students come from the poorest of households. For them, one meal a day is normal, two meals a day is a goal, and three meals a day is a luxury.

This is why all children at Imani School receive lunch everyday, and our preschoolers receive a breakfast in addition to their lunch.

Preparing Students for Success

In preschool and elementary education, a child’s ability to learn is closely connected to something very basic: food.

When children don't have proper nutrition they will:

• Be easily distracted
• Be unable to retain new information
• Become lathargic
• Miss class more often
• Tire easily
• Not develop physically and mentally

Children who receive regular meals are generally healthier, more energetic, and better able to engage with their classmates and teachers. In a classroom setting, this leads to improved attendance, stronger participation, and greater academic progress.

The Will of Our Lord and Savior

But along with the important practical reasons for feeding our children, we believe we also have a spiritual mandate from Jesus Himself.

In the parable of the sheep and goats on Judgement Day (Matthew 25:31-46), after Jesus seperates the sheep and the goats, He tells the sheep to:

"‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world".

Why did He invite the Sheep into His Kingdom? Because they had done the things that show the heart of a true Christian:

³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ (Matthew 25:35-36)

The Greatest Lesson of All - You are Loved

God has intrusted the care and loving of the children at Imani School to us - their teachers and administrators.

It is our desire that along with learning their numbers and letters, they will learn what it feels like to be loved so that they, in turn, will know how to love others.

This is the message of the Cross: You are loved!

We are honored to share that message with our children in our words and our deeds every day at Imani School; even if its just a bowl of porridge.

The Broader Impact

And the pond ripples outwards. When our children's parents see the love and care we take of their children in the name of Jesus (the spiritual Food, the physical food, and the educational food we provide them) their gratitude overflows to us and to God the Father.

Bowls of porridge are the weapons God is using to fight back Satan and give His people hope!

We thank you all for your prayers and financial support that allow us to continue on with the mission!