Meghan Markle has praised the ‘quiet heroes’ who helped feed the hungry during the coronavirus pandemic saying, ‘We have the power to remind someone else that there is hope.’
The Duchess of Sussex appeared on Sunday’s CNN Heroes special to share a pre-taped thank you to the Good Samaritans who fought increasing hunger in the US sparked by the coronavirus crisis.
It was her first public announcement since announcing she suffered a miscarriage in a moving op-ed published last month.
‘In a year that has been universally challenging for everyone, I’m inspired by the stories of compassion in our communities. Across the country, people have put their own needs aside to come together and support the collective well-being of those around them,’ she said.
Meghan Markle has praised the ‘quiet heroes’ who helped feed the hungry during the coronavirus pandemic saying, ‘We have the power to remind someone else that there is hope.’
‘Back in March, the COVID-19 crisis hit hard, and overnight everything seemed to change. For many families, the impact of the pandemic has been catastrophic, and far too many were faced with the heartbreaking question: How am I going to put food on the table for my family?’ she said.
She highlighted a surge in hunger in the country, sparked by skyrocketing unemployment and the inability for vulnerable populations – like the elderly and at-risk residents – to get enough food for themselves.
‘But in the face of this devastating reality, we also saw the power of the human spirit and the remarkable ways that communities respond in challenging times. We saw the good in people, in our neighbors and in entire communities coming together to say they would not stand by while our neighbors went hungry,’ she added.
It was her first public announcement since announcing she suffered a miscarriage in a moving op-ed published last month. Markle and Prince Harry pictured holding their baby Archie in October last year
In August Harry and Meghan handed out school supplies, clothing and nappies to families in need at a drive-thru event in Los Angeles organised by charity baby2baby
‘We saw communities standing up and taking action. When kids’ lunch programs came to a halt, we saw our neighbors make sure that those children received the nutrition they need. And when those who are immunocompromised or most vulnerable couldn’t leave their homes, we, as a community, showed up to deliver the food they needed to their doorsteps.
‘We know the value of food; as nourishment, as a life source, and in the moments of crisis, the warmth of a meal can feel as comforting as a much-needed hug – especially in the absence of human contact due to the social distancing we’re all experiencing,’ Markle said.
She praised the volunteers and workers who rose to the occasion and fed their hungry neighbors going through tough times.
‘These moments reminded so many that they’re cared for. Tonight, we are celebrating these quiet heroes, some of whom I know and others that we applaud from afar. These individuals stood up and made sure the most basic needs of our communities were met. They made sure those around them did not have to suffer in isolation. They nourished their neighbors in more ways than one,’ she said.
Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, pictured in June with former gang members at a bakery in Los Angeles to volunteer and make food for the elderly in the area
The Duchess of Sussex, who had previously taken part in workshops with the organization as a teenager, pictured packing food boxes
‘And they showed us, all of us, that even in the darkest times, when we come together, we have the power to remind someone else that there is hope, and that we will be okay,’ she added.
Markle and Prince Harry share a 19-month-old son named Archie.
Since leaving the UK to return to her home state of California, Markle has volunteered with several local organizations.
In April she and Harry helped distribute meals for Project Angel Food, a non-profit that prepares and delivers meals to people living with critical illnesses who face greater risks during the pandemic.
In June the couple worked with Homeboy Industries, a community social justice organization that helps formerly incarcerated and former gang members. They joined the group’s participants working in a café and bakery and helped them make food for the #FeedHOPE program which distributes meals to seniors and youth who face food insecurity sparked by the pandemic.