Every day millions of children are kept home from school to help their families. With no incentive for their parents to allow their child to give up a day's work, these children often remain unfed and uneducated. Of those families that can afford to send their children to school, most are unable to provide them with meals, making it extremely difficult for these students to focus during their lessons. This cycle of malnutrition and lack of education prevents any chance of societal progression. Your gift of $500 will provide 10 children with a school meal for a year. This is proven to significantly increase attendance rates, help children take their minds off their next meal and dedicate their attention to their studies. Providing meals at schools encourages poor families to send their children to be educated and proper nutrition helps pupils stay focused in the classroom. For more information on what The World Food Program is doing to end hunger, visit www.friendsofwfp.org