I didn’t even hear about this until I happened upon a particularly nasty tweet about it, which just goes to show you: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s haters are actually promoting the Sussexes’ work without meaning to. I guess those haters had the time, since they rarely have anything to talk about, work-wise, with William and Kate. So, on Monday, America celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A lot of white supremacists posted MLK quotes and there was a lot of yelling and rolling of eyes. But it was also a day – or a three-day weekend – of service for a lot of people, including the Bidens and the Sussexes. On Sunday, Prince Harry and Meghan sent meals to the volunteers at The Mission Continues:
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are honoring Martin Luther King Day with a special gesture. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex provided some lunchtime fuel for the Los Angeles nonprofit The Mission Continues over the holiday weekend — and referenced the civil rights pioneer as a source of inspiration.
“In honor of this day of service, and in recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and all that he stood for, we want to send our thanks and gratitude to the team at The Mission Continues,” Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, said in a message to the organization’s volunteers. “We’re so proud of all the work you’re doing to support your community and hope you enjoy this small token of our appreciation. Thank you for your service today and every day. We look forward to joining you soon. Stay safe and keep up the good work.”
They signed their names as simply “Harry and Meghan” above their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles.
This weekend’s food was organized by Homegirl Catering, a community social justice organization visited by Harry and Meghan in June.
On Sunday, The Mission Continues was just as grateful for Harry and Meghan’s assistance —and that of their recently launched Archewell Foundation, which has the concept of helping support community organizations at its core. “We’d like to send a huge thank you to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with Archewell Foundation, for fueling the volunteers of our LA Service Platoon with lunch yesterday, so they can continue their hard work at the Compton VFW and help those living in the Compton community!” the non-profit posted on Instagram. “We’re truly honored to have their support! #MLKDayON.”
Harry worked with The Mission Continues in November, taking part in a day of food distribution in association with Walker Family Events Foundation. The Mission Continues is a national nonprofit with chapters around the country, and the entire organization is staffed by veterans. I’m a little bit surprised that we didn’t see Meghan and Harry volunteer in person for A Day of Service, but California has crazy coronavirus-infection numbers and so maybe they just decided not to risk it.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
How to thank volunteers in a safe way& try to help meet practical needs by providing lunch. Nice to order lunch from Homegirl who they met with previously too. Good job H&M
A great example of giving in a strategic and joined up thinking way. Wish the state funded ones we’ve been left with in the UK could spend their time and energy and our money in this direction, as opposed to on choo choo train photo ops and maligning the ones earning their keep across the pond.
This is wonderful way to thank volunteers that is actually tangible. After a year of the pandemic clapping isn’t enough. They were able to provide support and not get in the way. Well done.
I think this would have been great idea but for some reason Royals don’t like to spend money on their subjects which is weird given they receive money from the taxpayers.
You’re right, and nothing is stopping William and Kate from sending lunch to a local Norfolk hospital as a thank you for the front line workers. Send bagels and doughnuts and coffee at such a time that it overlaps with the night shift and day shift workers. Something like that would mean more at this point, IMO, than another video of the Cambridges clapping. But that would mean spending their own money and they wont do that.
@Becks1, I was gonna say, El Cheapo and Spend-a-Lot won’t dip into their own bank balance to do squat. If it isn’t on the taxpayers’ dime, (pence 😊) or Charles’ black AmEx, or with a photographer to document it, they aren’t interested.
@becks1 the people of Norfolk should be grateful for the photo op of delivering dried pasta with covid infected royals. They should not expect actual help.
Always considerate, always thinking of others in need. Thank you Harry & Meghan.
Cut to folks complaining about the black princess working while the white princess does literally nothing….
Not sure I understand why anyone would criticize H & M for being kind hearted.
Because only William and Kate can do nice things and tell you about it.
Twitter users had to point out the letter was dated the 16th so “they didn’t donate on MLK day”. I had to point out the logical, that a donation that big would have to be set up ahead of time; it couldn’t be a last minute thing. Then, of course, there were those who whine that they used their titles so they are using royal connections. I bet if one of their grandparents gave them a title; the haters would use them. As a matter of fact, there are several haters on twitter who do use fake titles. And there are the ever-present: TRUE charity doesn’t have to brag. So-and-so gives secretly. (Uh, no so-and-so doesn’t or you wouldn’t know about it, would you?) Haters: They aren’t charitable because they disowned Tom. Also haters: the RF should disown H&M. These people can’t find logic or kindness within themselves. It’s sort of sad.
Their thinking/logic (or lack of logic) is painful.
equality, or they actually have the nerve to say, oh, is that ALL they donate? how cheap of them. They also did this with the NZ hats H&M bought /donated. It’s really the old glass half full/half empty, you see what you want to see. Whereas most logical/ normal see a donation in a positive light, their hate drives them to see anything but. Yes, very sad.
Tom who?
It wasn’t a problem until Meghan entered the scene.
Anyways, it’s a thoughtful act by both of them. It’s kind of great how they retain ties to some of the charities they’ve worked with.
I do wish they’d just start an Instagram again. I’m sure they’d get flack, but I’d like to get these updates! I’m not in the habit of checking tabloid newspapers everyday.
I think they aren’t ready. As someone who’s family is incredibly toxic, when you have little kids the idea of exposing them in anyway to people who will relentlessly mock everything about them and you hurts on a whole other level. It makes you rethink things. They get so much negativity as it is….. I completely understand where they are coming from. Emotionally they might just not be there. Lord knows I’ve dealt with my family being horrific to me and my husband and kids any chance they get – which is none, they rely entirely on whatever crumbs they happen upon in my locked down world or just rehash old things – and I’m still not ready. And I’m not on the world stage. I’m just the scapegoat of an
Incredibly horrible family.
@ MOXYLADY-so very sorry you had to go through this and are going through it.
You are SO STRONG!
Sending you love, (((hugs)))) and warm healing 🌅🌅
You’re very strong lady Moxylady. You should be proud of your guts.
This is such a nice gesture from them and I love that they used Homegirl Catering – it got them more business and more publicity and again just shows that once H&M decide to associate themselves with a charity or organization, they stick with them.
As for the haters – honestly, it makes me laugh. I bought and read Finding Freedom, for example, but I know that a LOT of the people who read it are anti-Sussex peeps who just wanted to know what dirt the book had – but that’s fine, because Omid doesnt care why you bought his book or why you took it out of the library. The hate people have for them is only increasing their value.
It will take a while for the penny to drop for haters. Their negative attention has been the wind beneath the wings that has enabled the Sussexes to soar.
Love them. Weird to see the note on plain paper. But nice too.
What kind of paper were you expecting? A fancier stationary?
papyrus and heiroglyphs? parchment and quill pen? an illuminated manuscript?
Uhhh, were you expecting watermarked and embossed high-grade stationary?
That’s a bad photo, it could be nice stationary. I’m sure it’s not the Staple’s deal of the week printer paper I use.
It would be nice if it had H and M at the top. No title, nothing royal. And let the haters yell into the wind on how they’re nothing without their titles.
Actually, it probably is the Staples special of the week. This note was most likely dictated to Homegirl catering then typed and printed by them. I doubt they have the funds to waste on fancy paper.
Good point, Steph.
The haters are Harry and Meghan’s biggest fans. I’m grateful to them because they do a lot to promote Harry and Meghan’s projects.
😀😀😀😀😁😁😁😁
Is it wrong to want to see what was inside the box? I’m so curious! I love this type of gesture on the part of H&M; you know that the recipients were smiling to get an unexpected free meal from the Duke and Duchess. Feed the body and spread joy.
and isn’t it true that while they would be happy to get a free meal from anyone, it is somehow more special coming from Harry and Meghan! I know I’d love it!
@ Harper, I would love a peek too!! I saw this on an Instagram gage dedicated to H&M the other day!!
I love how thoughtful and they foresee the bridging of two organizations to create a building dynamic of the two. They are incredibly smart and utilize their efforts to bridge relationships and businesses!!
I do enjoy seeing how they bring different causes/charities together towards the common good.
That’s what I love about their charity work, combining two different organizations kind knocks out two birds with one stone. Both charities get the attention and the business. It also shows that H&M are staying in touch with them and not just showing up for the photo op. It was the same with the Hubb ladies and Street games. I can’t remember the name exactly, but it was a charity Harry previously worked with.
Luminary Bakery in London does that also with SmartWorks now, they just announced they are partnering together! Brought together by Meghan, of course. She really does inspire so many people!
It’s really smart and it also helps the charities build contacts for themselves which helps them be self sustaining.
This was a sweet gesture. I loved that they kept everything in the community.
Kind, meaningful and unselfish. So much better than merely driving around (or taking a train ride) “thanking” those who work to help others.
I love that after the “straight out of Compton” comments Prince Harry has established a relationship with a veterans organization in Compton. It feels cheeky.
@ Smices, I searched in reference to your comment, and I found this. It’s not exactly in reference to your comments, but I loved the picture line up at the end of the article!!
https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/culture/a34710656/prince-harry-volunteering-charity-los-angeles/
Love this! UK’s loss is America’s gain.
Love this! So very thoughtful and caring. Also love the collaboration between organizations. Carry on, Harry & Meghan!
There is a real pragmatism to their choices. I love that they pick organizations that provide tangible results for people in need.
This was lovely. They are always so thoughtful. Their actions are intentional not just waiving and training around town.