Meghan Markle paid a modest visit to a new charity group working to restore a sense of normalcy to teenagers affected by the Eaton fire, one of a series of wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area.
PEOPLE has learned that the Duchess of Sussex supported the Altadena Teen Girls Fire Recovery group on Jan. 13, an organization she and Prince Harry have contributed to through their Archewell Foundation.
Altadena Teen Girls Fire Recovery was started by 14-year-old Avery Colvert of Pasadena last week to collect cosmetics, hair care items, clothing and other personal items for teenage girls displaced or affected by the Eaton Fire, Los Angeles Times reports. The fire that broke out on Jan. 7 is over 14,000 acres in size and 45% contained as of Jan. 15, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
She arrived with new clothes, beauty products and lunch for the volunteers. Meghan interacted directly with the families during the visit, helping the girls shop, chatting and providing much-needed support throughout the visit.
Meghan Markle in an Instagram reel shared by Altadena Teen Girls Fire Recovery Jan 15, 2025
Altadena Teen Girls Fire Recovery/Instagram
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The Duchess of Sussex was spotted in a clip the group shared on Instagram on January 15, which showed volunteers working in a warehouse full of produce. Footage was shown of Meghan talking to someone in private, wearing a black Los Angeles baseball cap and holding two full bags.
“And thanks to everyone who showed up on Monday, which was such a special day! We love you!” Altadena Teen Girls Fire Recovery captioned the clip on Instagram.
The footage, filmed by charity organizers, offered a glimpse of Meghan’s efforts on the ground and followed her outing with Prince Harry to the Pasadena Convention Center on January 10. There, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex helped distribute food and supplies to victims of the Eaton fire, arriving without fanfare to lend a hand directly.
Prince Harry and Meghan take a discreet approach to their site visits, prioritizing the meaningful. Contrary to some reports, the Duke and Duchess are not bringing videographers or photographers with them, instead focusing on directly supporting communities and ongoing relief efforts.
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Prince Harry (left) and Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo (right) at a destroyed home in Altadena on January 10, 2025.
Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty
The Altadena Teen Girls Fire Recovery Group revealed that the Archewell Foundation had contributed to its mission on Instagram since January 14, sharing a “special thanks” to Harry and Meghan’s charity.
“We’re official! We can now accept donations directly to our organization and make sure all of those funds go RIGHT into the community where they’re needed! So many of you have set up your own Venmoes and more to raise money for us and we’re so grateful to the Archewell Foundation for your support!” the message read.
In the comments section, the account owner hit back at one Instagram user who made a supportive comment about Meghan’s visit.
“Just meeting her is life-changing! Having her support is unreal,” said a representative of the aid group.
Colvert started the relief group with the help of her stepfather, Matt Chait, taking on the special mission of helping her peers affected by the Eaton fire feel like themselves again.
“I started this to help the girls who were particularly affected by the Eaton Canyon Fire, who lost their homes, feel like themselves — and feel confident again,” she told LA Times. “They’ve lost everything and I want them to feel a sense of normalcy when nothing else in their life is normal.”
The group has become popular on social media (which Meghan recently rejoined with an Instagram page of the same name), and the first day of shopping for those in need was Monday.
The Duchess of Sussex was born and raised in Los Angeles, and she and Prince Harry live north of LA in the Santa Barbara enclave of Montecito with their children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.
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Meghan Markle in Altadena on January 10, 2025.
Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty
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PEOPLE confirmed on Jan. 10 that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex opened their home to friends and loved ones who were forced to evacuate, and the couple traveled south that day to volunteer in Pasadena.
On January 12, the Duchess of Sussex announced that she was delaying the release of her new Netflix series, With love, Meghandue to the destruction caused by forest fires. The premiere of the lifestyle series was supposed to be on January 15, but she postponed it to March 4 with the support of Netflix.
“I am grateful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch while we focus on the needs of those affected by the wildfires in my home state of California,” Meghan said in a statement released on Sunday, January 12.
It is clear that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are working to find the most effective ways to support the community during the crisis, as the bushfires continue to wreak havoc. According to Cal Fire on January 15, more than 40,000 acres have burned with 24 deaths.
Click here to learn more about how to help victims of the Los Angeles wildfires.
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Source: HIS Education