Meghan Markle visits charity for homeless pregnant women in Los Angeles
Meghan Markle celebrated International Women’s Day with a visit to a homeless pregnant women’s shelter, delivering essential supplies to pregnant women on behalf of her Archewell Foundation.
The 41-year-old mother of two smiled as she hugged a woman wearing a Harvest Home T-shirt, the name of the Los Angeles shelter.
Wearing a $4,000 black cashmere Max Mara coat worn over black shorts and a black wool sweater, Markle and her team at Archewell distributed baby gifts.
She beamed broadly as she handed out baby clothes, books and toys in photos shared by Omid Scobie, a journalist who acts as her unofficial spokesperson and co-author of the book about the Sussexes, Finding Freedom.
The Duchess of Sussex is seen Wednesday at Harvest Home, a shelter for homeless pregnant women in Los Angeles.
Meghan Markle hugs a woman wearing a Harvest Home T-shirt on Wednesday. She has supported the organization since 2021, urging others to donate or volunteer their time.
Archewell employees are seen setting up a ‘pop-up baby boutique’, where they handed out baby clothes, toys and books.
Scobie said the Archewell team “had lunch at a woman-owned restaurant and made a donation.”
Harvest Home’s website states that their work “transforms the lives of homeless pregnant women and their children by providing housing, support, and programs that equip women to become great mothers.”
The Los Angeles County Department of Health reports that each year 5,000 women become homeless at some point during their pregnancy, the NGO says, yet in Los Angeles there are currently fewer than 70 shelter beds available for pregnant women.
Harvest Home provides 28 of those beds.
In a statement on its website, Archewell said: “Today, the Archewell Foundation celebrated International Women’s Day with a visit to Harvest Home.
‘This valued organization helps provide housing, mental wellness support and classes to mothers-to-be who have faced enormous challenges including domestic violence, substance use and homelessness. Since its founding in 1985, Harvest Home has supported more than 600 pregnant women and their children.
“As a champion of women’s rights and advocate for mothers and families in need, Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex and the Archewell team celebrated the women of Harvest Home by creating a pop-up baby boutique, hosting a restaurant lunch owned by women and making a donation to the organization.
‘Happy International Women’s Day everyone! Whether it’s donating your time, funds, or helping a woman in your community, let’s celebrate the women in our lives today and every day!’
The Duchess of Sussex smiles as she leaves Gracias Madre in West Hollywood on International Women’s Day. She was accompanied by Ashley Momtaheni, EVP of Archewell Global Communications
Meghan Markle outside the restaurant in West Hollywood on Wednesday
The Duchess of Sussex is pictured leaving the Gracias Madre restaurant on Wednesday.
Meghan Markle smiles as she is photographed outside the restaurant in California
A Caesar salad at Gracias Madre costs a whopping $18, while an entree of empanadas de chorizo will set you back $17.
Markle has supported the charity for several years.
On Mother’s Day in 2021, he donated supplies to the organization.
She said at the time: ‘When we consider how vulnerable a mother feels during the fragile time of pregnancy, we gain insight into how especially difficult it can be for pregnant women of color and those who come from under-resourced and vulnerable communities.
“I hope you will accept an offer of support to help make the residents of Harvest Home even better.”
And in July of the same year, Archewell partnered with Procter & Gamble and Pampers to donate “nappy pads and palettes” to the charity.
Harvest Home wrote on Instagram: “These nappies recently arrived at our new Pico-Robertson House and we couldn’t be more grateful to the Archewell Foundation, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and @proctergamble and @pampersus for the amazing donation via Million Acts of the Love Campaign.
‘Thank you for helping us ensure the needs of the families of our residents and alumnae are met!’
Before visiting the shelter, the Duchess had lunch in West Hollywood with Ashley Momtaheni, Archewell’s executive vice president of global communications.
The couple dined at Gracias Madre, a vegan Mexican restaurant on Melrose Avenue.
The restaurant says that it is “born out of love for Mother Earth and reverence for all mothers.”
Wednesday’s outing came as the Daily Mail revealed that Buckingham Palace is making plans for Harry and Meghan to attend the King’s Coronation.
Staff organizing logistics for the historic occasion have been instructed to include the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in their program for May 6, the sources said.
While experts cautioned that the couple have yet to accept King Charles’s invitation, the fact that officials in the Master of the House’s Department and the Lord Chamberlain’s Office are anticipating their attendance is the strongest suggestion yet that the Sussex could appear.
That’s despite spending much of the last three years throwing bricks at the monarchy as an institution, as well as the rest of the Royal Family.
Negotiations over which events the couple would attend, where they would sit, what they would wear and, of course, their safety, are likely to come down to the last minute.