Meghan Supports Hubb's Project to Help Londoner & Backs Evening Standard's Food for London Now Campaign

Whilst it will be several months before we hear details on Harry and Meghan's plans for their new charitable entity Archewell, I knew without question we would see them supporting causes closest to their hearts both in LA and the UK during the COVID-19 crisis. During a Zoom call on Tuesday, the Duchess reconnected with the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen to discuss plans to support the community during this uncertain time and to officially back the Evening Standard's "moving" Food For London Now campaign.

The work Meghan did with the Hubb following the Grenfell tragedy involving community, togetherness through cooking, and women supporting women is at the very heart of her efforts. Meghan told the group: "What was so great is you look back at that first day we met and then however many visits later and going, ‘yeah, we’re just going to make a cookbook’, and not knowing what a huge success it was going to be. And that’s a testament to you where I felt, again, it’s inspired so many people." The Duchess also added: "The spirit of the Hubb Community Kitchen has always been one of caring, giving back and helping those in need, initially in Grenfell and now throughout the UK. A home-cooked meal from one neighbour to another, when they need it most, is what community is all about."

Duchess Meghan has connected with the women of the @almanaar Hubb Community Kitchen, who have unveiled a new meals delivery service for families struggling to feed themselves during the coronavirus lockdown. Starting Monday they’ll cook 250-300 meals a day, three days a week. pic.twitter.com/BGI8rjRzSG

— Omid Scobie (@scobie) April 17, 2020

Following a request from Meghan, the group of over seventeen women plan to prepare up to 300 nutritious meals per day from their own homes starting Monday. Much of the produce will be supplied by the Felix Project, the Evening Standard's charity partner, which sources surplus foods from suppliers and supermarkets. Meghan said: "I’m so proud of the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen, and the continued support the Felix Project gives them to carry out these acts of goodwill, which at this moment are urgently needed. I’m equally moved by the many people who are contributing to the Evening Standard’s campaign to raise money for these vital organisations in the wake of Covid-19."

Omid Scobie reports:

'On Tuesday, April 14, Meghan joined five of the women from the community kitchen via video call from Los Angeles, where she praised them for the hard work they’re about to begin. Hubb kitchen manager Leila Hedjem was on Zoom call alongside Cherine Mallah, Halima Al-Hudafi, Oxana Sinitsyna, and Jennifer Odonkor, who have all met Meghan before.

Also joining the project from Monday is Hubb project manager Intalak Alsaiegh, who has formed a close bond with the duchess during her many visits to the West London-based Al-Manaar Muslim Cultural Centre, where the kitchen is based. She previously told BAZAAR, “She has a big heart and shows us all so much warmth. We’ve always felt like she is one of us. One of our community.”

Another friendly face supporting the efforts is three-Michelin-star chef Clare Smyth, who created the menu for the Sussexes’ May 2018 wedding and has visited the Hubb kitchen on a number of occasions and even helped teach new skills to a number of women involved in this new project. “The work of the Hubb kitchen and the Felix Project is a powerful force for good in our community,” she says. “Their work has never been more important than at this time. Countless charities are more in need now than ever. We must all join forces to take care of the most vulnerable in our society. Providing healthy and nutritious meals is crucial to helping people get through this.”'

It's very much a collaborative effort, with another charity close to the Sussexes' hearts involved. During their day of engagements before the wedding in Cardiff, Wales, Harry introduced his wife-to-be to the work of StreetGames, an organisation the Prince has been working with for several years across the UK. Harry saw the potential for StreetGames' "Fit and Fed" initiative, which focused on the holiday gap which causes hunger and isolation for many young people, to grow and put them in touch with the Hubb. As the Hubb prepares meals for the most vulnerable, StreetGames will be by their side taking care of delivery.

More from the Evening Standard:

'Mark Curtin, Felix’s chief executive, said: “The women of Hubb Community Kitchen have stepped up yet again in the face of a global pandemic. We stand together with all of our partners to get food to people most at risk of experiencing hunger and malnutrition in this time of need.”

Evening Standard proprietor Evgeny Lebedev said: “It is a pleasure to have the backing of the Duchess of Sussex for our campaign. “Her support for the survivors of the Grenfell fire is truly admirable. Our campaign will continue to support the Hubb Community Kitchen, along with so many other essential community organisations at this time.

“This is a crisis, and I am grateful for Meghan’s endorsement.”'

The Evening Standard's Food For London Now campaign is an appeal to fund the delivery of food to the elderly, unwell and most vulnerable Londoners who are self-isolating, confined to their homes and at high risk of falling seriously ill if they contract the virus. Donations will go to the Felix Project, who are working with a range of groups including the Hubb to ensure no one in London is without healthy, nutritious meals. An array of charities, food banks and local community centres are involved in ensuring those most in need are supported.

More from the Felix Project:

'The Coronavirus health crisis impacts every one of us, but none more than the most vulnerable in our society.

As London's biggest food redistribution charity, we are working on overdrive during this lockdown to continue rescuing good food and getting it to people who need it - children, families, the homeless, elderly, people with mental health issues, domestic abuse survivors, refugees and NHS staff.

This month we have delivered over 100 tonnes of food to Londoners in need through our extensive network of over 600 charities, schools, holiday programmes and local community groups.

 And yet, this is not enough. More people than ever face hunger in London, now. In order to ensure nobody is left behind, we are working to get food to new distribution hubs in every London borough, as part of the new London Food Alliance.

We need to raise enough funds so we can keep going and reach everyone we need to over the next three months. This is a time like no other and the need is unprecedented. We won’t stop bring food to people in need, for as long as we can, however we can. Join us and help to #FeedLondon.'

Mark Curtin, CEO of the Felix Project said: "The women of Hubb Community Kitchen came together in the face of tragedy and they have stepped up yet again in the face of a global pandemic. At the Felix Project, we have also scaled up our operations very quickly in order to ensure we can meet the increased demand the crisis has created, both here in West London, and across the capital. We stand together with all of our partners to get food to people most at risk of experiencing hunger and malnutrition in this time of need."

If you would like to donate to Food for London Now please click here or to support the Felix Project directly click here.

This multi-faceted effort is demonstrative of the ripple effect we've heard Meghan speak of. Meghan's work supporting and empowering the women of the Hubb - one of the most inspiring group of people I've ever had the privilege to write about - now moves to its next phase. Grenfell was one of the most devastating tragedies to ever occur in the UK. The bravery and courage of these woman is deeply moving. At a time when Londoners need support more than ever, they put their hands up and asked "What can we do?" - the epitome of community spirit. Through Harry's support of StreetGames, their meals will be delivered to doorsteps all over the capital. Meghan's backing of the Evening Standard's appeal should put paid to the notion they were unwilling to cooperate with the media. Their actions during this crisis when they are on the other side of the pond, speak loudly and clearly to how much the UK means to them.