Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are getting involved in their new community. Well, it's new to Harry and Archie, but not for Meghan. When the couple was thinking of ways to give back, the Los Angeles native thought of Project Angel Food.
Project Angel Food is a Los Angeles-based charity that works to bring nutritious meals to the homes of men, women, and children affected by life-threatening illnesses. The organization has a long history in the area. Meghan was already aware of its impact on the community. When she heard the organization was overwhelmed as Angelinos continue to stay at home, she conferred with Harry about helping out.
Entertainment Tonight confirmed that Harry and Meghan pitched in with Project Angel Food on Wednesday. It wasn't the first time. They started their service with the organization on Easter Sunday. Like all volunteers and employees, the couple complied with social distancing and wore masks and gloves during their time delivering meals.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have found a way of giving back while in Los Angeles. The couple has been concerned about communities everywhere due to the recent changes in the world. A tip from Meghan's mom, Doria Ragland, helped the couple figure out where to start.
Doria, a frontline worker herself, pointed the couple toward Project Angel Food. The organization has been providing the free delivery of thousands of nutritious meals each year to the homes of men, women, and children affected by life-threatening illnesses. Meghan was aware of the good work it's been doing in the community for the past 30 years.
Entertainment Tonight was able to confirm that Harry and Meghan have helped out the charity twice. The first time was on Easter Sunday. They helped overwhelmed drivers by delivering nonperishable meals.
Richard Ayoub, Project Angel Food's executive director, was thrilled with Harry and Meghan's decision to volunteer. "They told us they heard our drivers were overloaded and wanted to volunteer to lighten the drivers' workload," he explained.
Like other volunteers, Harry and Meghan had to wear gloves and masks and practice social distancing. They returned to help out again on Wednesday.
"I am blown away that they chose us. They care about our vulnerable population," Richard noted.
He said that the organization's clients are at the highest risk right now, because they have "compromised immune systems including heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and most are over the age of 60."
Project Angel Food has had an additional 400 people sign up for help since stay-at-home orders have gone into place. This brings the total amount of meals they serve each day from 1,600 to 2,000. It's important to the members of the organization to do the best they can to help as many vulnerable Angelinos as possible.
One of the recipients of a delivery from Harry and Meghan detailed his experience to WeHoVille.
"They were both nice and very down-to-earth people," Dan Tyrell said. "They had masks on, and they were dressed down with jeans, but very nice jeans."
"I thought that tall red-headed guy looked pretty familiar, and that girl was very pretty," Dan recalls.
"Then I saw the large black SUVs with the security guards behind them. If they had given me the heads up, I would have worn my tiara!"
In discussion with WeHoVille, Richard noted that Project Angel Food had no intention of publicizing Harry and Meghan's contributions, but the story got out.
"They wanted to help us relieve some of the drivers from their workload," he said. "So they made deliveries in West Hollywood today. It’s really, really amazing. We loved having them and they are the most down-to-earth people."
That's not all Harry and Meghan have done. The couple also donated $112,000 of profits from their royal wedding broadcast to Feeding Britain, an independent charity working to eliminate hunger.
"The Duke and Duchess were able to speak to The Archbishop [of Canterbury] recently, and were moved to hear all about the work Feeding Britain was doing to support people," during this global health crisis, a spokesperson for the couple said.
Many believe these charitable actions are an indication of what is to come from Harry and Meghan. They recently announced they're working on a charity organization of their own, Archewell. If they're drawing from the amazing organizations they're already assisting, it stands to be a world-changing venture.
