Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Sported Masks to Help Prepare Meals for Vulnerable People in L.A.
This week, Prince Harry and Meghan visited an organization working to improve the lives of people formerly incarcerated and involved with gangs. The couple, who have been living in the US since formally stepping down as working royals earlier this year, spent Tuesday afternoon at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles. They donned face masks to work in the cafe and bakery joining Homeboy participants preparing food for vulnerable people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Homeboy Industries is run by Father Greg Boyle, whom a spokesperson says Harry and Megan have been speaking with about the racial justice movement. Father Boyle worked closely with the Duchess’s former High School Immaculate Heart, and Meghan and her mother Doria joined him for a cooking workshop with Homeboy almost 20 years ago.
“The Duke and Duchess connect deeply to Homeboy’s mission to welcome all people into a community of mutual kinship and love, focused on healing and contributing to the wellbeing of families and communities,” a source close to the couple shared following the visit. “To them, Homeboy is a perfect example of how empathy, kindness, and compassion can change the world.”
The organization shared photographs of the couple’s visit on their social media pages, showing Meghan and Harry rolling out pastry and packing meals. “Our staff was thrilled to work alongside them as they helped prepare food and learned more about our newly launched #FeedHOPE program which employs our program participants to provide meals to food-insecure seniors and youth across Los Angeles,” the caption read.
A post shared by Homeboy Industries (@homeboyindustries) on Jun 24, 2020 at 10:16am PDT
Homeboy Industries, which has been running for 32 years, provides social services and resources to high-risk, formerly gang-involved men and women such as counseling, education, legal assistance, addiction recovery support, tattoo removal, job training, and employment opportunities.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were just ‘Harry and Meghan’ to the homies. They rolled up their sleeves and deeply engaged with our workers in the Bakery and Café. It was immediate kinship and heartening in its mutuality,” said Father Greg Boyle in a statement.
Since Meghan and Harry stepped back as working royals they have been planning the next stage of their community and philanthropic work and the launch of their non-profit Archewell. The coronavirus pandemic has curtailed their ability to get out and about; however, they have been visible online as they have kept in touch with charities and held meetings digitally.
Last month Meghan also made a powerful speech to the graduating class of her former high school where she addressed the killing of George Floyd. “I’m so sorry that you have to grow up in a world where this is still present,” she said.
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