DOLLAR Academy have come top of the class after raising an astonishing £5,000 for Mary’s Meals by collecting loose change.

Pupils at the Wee County school reached the amazing amount by collecting loose change from family and friends as part of their Harvest Challenge.

Mary’s Meals provides meals in school for more than 1.2 million chronically hungry children in the world’s poorest communities, helping them to access an education and the chance of a brighter future.

Sally Horne, assistant head of Dollar Academy’s junior school said: “We set the pupils a Harvest Challenge every year and they each were given a cup to collect coins in. We challenged them to raise £13.90 each, the amount it costs to feed a child for a year with Mary’s Meals.

“They focused on collecting loose change and asked any visitors if they would like to give to the charity. The idea also encouraged them to think about others while they were eating their own meals.”

It is the second year in a row that Dollar Academy’s junior school has supported the Scottish-based charity through their Harvest Challenge and their efforts inspired the prep school and senior pupils to get involved too.

And there was further good news to share – thanks to Mary’s Meals Double the Love campaign, Dollar Academy’s donation will go even further.

Until 31 December 2017 donations, up to a total of £1.9 million, are being matched by three amazing Mary’s Meals donors, including players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Sally added: “The children love the fact that Mary’s Meals is for children and it’s based in education. That really appeals to the pupils here and they been able to follow the lives of some of the children who have received Mary’s Meals, thanks to the charity’s films Generation Hope and Child 31, so they can see how big the impact can be.

“They love the stories around the charity and how local people volunteer in programmes all over the world. We are even considering sponsoring a school through Mary’s Meals.”

Joe Black, education officer at Mary’s Meals, said: “What a wonderful donation! We’re extremely grateful to Dollar Academy for helping us to transform the lives of so many hungry children through their amazing fundraising efforts.

“Our work to feed children in impoverished countries every day they attend school would not be possible without the kindness of supporters like the pupils at Dollar Academy – thank you.”