Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s strenuous efforts to help victims of the California fires have been praised by the local mayor of Pasadena, California.
Living only 90-miles north of Los Angeles in Montecito, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex helped distribute food and supplies to victims of the Eaton Fire on January 10 and were pictured wearing masks and casually dressed.
People Magazine understands the couple donated essential supplies, served meals with World Central Kitchen and connected with affected families and elderly individuals.
Pasadena Mayor, Victor Gordo, described the couple’s efforts in eight-words, saying Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, “really buoyed the spirits of the first responders”.
He described the kind actions of the couple: “They want to be as helpful as they can be…we visited with some of the affected families in some of the burned-out areas in Pasadena and Altadena.
“They took the time to meet the people that are affected and spent time. They’re just very caring people who are concerned for their friends and neighbours.”
Through their Archewell Foundation, it is reported Harry and Meghan have contributed monetary donations and plan to continue supporting recovery and rebuilding efforts with future visits.
The local mayor told Fox News 11: “It’s great people, great personalities and great heart for them to come out here and meet with the first responders, meet with the people who were affected.”
He added: “It’s very important.”
At least 11 people have been killed in the fires so far and it’s estimated more than 10,000 homes and other structures have been destroyed. President Joe Biden describes Los Angeles as a “war scene” while warning the death toll is likely to increase.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex urged people to “open their homes” to those evacuated and “check-in” on any of their “disabled or elderly neighbours” – via a statement uploaded onto their website.
They wrote: “In the last few days, wildfires in Southern California have raged through neighborhoods and devastated families, homes, schools, medical care centers, and so much more – affecting tens of thousands from all walks of life.”
Links to organisations helping with relief were uploaded onto the Sussexes’ news page.
They also shared information for resources such as World Central Kitchen, and other companies that have teamed to help anyone displaced by the wildfires, which continue to devastate the areas.
