A Recipe for Change: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Is on a Mission to Feed and Empower Others

A Recipe for Change: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Is on a Mission to Feed and Empower Others

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, is once again making headlines as she shares her favorite cake recipe in a new charity cookbook. The lemon olive oil cake recipe will feature in The World Central Kitchen Cookbook: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope, which will be released on September 12, alongside recipes from renowned chefs, local cooks, and friends of the global nonprofit—the likes of Michelle Obama, Guy Fieri, Emeril Lagasse and Ayesha Curry. All proceeds will benefit the World Central Kitchen's emergency response efforts.

Markle had previously sent the cake to a group of female restaurateurs in Chicago who had partnered with World Central Kitchen to feed those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the organization revealing at the time Markle had used lemons from her garden in the cake.

A note from Markle accompanying the package read: "Sometimes we overlook how much it matters to express thanks and show appreciation. Perhaps we realize now more than ever that fundamental human moments, like enjoying a meal together, fill us up with more than just food (even if that food is delicious!).

"To that point, we hope you enjoy the offering we baked for you—a small token of thanks, from our home to yours. Our hope with this effort is to show that, when we all participate, even the smallest actions can have a ripple effect. Even individual actions can impact the whole of us."

The Archewell Foundation, jointly run by Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, has worked with World Central Kitchen since December 2020. The two organizations previously worked together to build four Community Relief Centers worldwide and distributed meals in Ukraine.

Recently, the Archewell Foundation supported World Central Kitchen and Humanity Crew in their efforts to provide critical care to communities affected by an earthquake in Türkiye and Syria. Humanity Crew provides mental health aid to children, caregivers, and emergency responders, while World Central Kitchen immediately deploys teams to provide hot meals in the area.

“With support from The Archewell Foundation, Humanity Crew’s mental health professionals in Türkiye, in addition to helping aid workers on the ground, are able to continue their work providing psychological aid to alleviate trauma and shock; training local responders on providing mental health support; running support groups with adolescents; serving families through counseling; and working with non-governmental organizations to ensure culturally competent interventions,” a press release from the Archewell Foundation shared.

This is not the first time that the Duchess of Sussex has used her love of cooking to support a charitable cause. Markle, who is passionate about cooking and often shares photos and recipes of her creations, previously worked with the Hubb Community Kitchen, which provides meals for those affected by West London's Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. Together they produced a cookbook called Together: Our Community Cookbook which featured over 50 recipes from women affected by the disaster. The book was an instant success and raised over $600,000 for the Hubb Community Kitchen.

In addition to her charitable work and culinary pursuits, Markle has also been recognized for her advocacy on a variety of issues, including gender equality, mental health, and racial justice.

Earlier this year, Markle earned a Gracie Award for her Archetypes podcast. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation annually awards this honor to exceptional programming and individual achievement created by, for, and about women across all media in news and entertainment. Markle's podcast featured an impressive roster of guests, including Mariah Carey, Serena Williams, Mindy Kaling, and Paris Hilton.

In a statement on the Archewell Foundation website, Markle expressed her gratitude for the recognition and thanked the women who helped make the podcast possible. "This is a shared success for me and the team behind Archetypes—most of whom are women—and the inspiring guests who joined me each week," she said.

On top of Markle’s philanthropic efforts, her work through the Archewell Foundation furthers her positive impact. The Archewell Foundation aims to do good in the world by creating dynamic and impactful programming to serve communities in need, partnering with several organizations to support these causes, create positive change in the world, and drive long-term change. Their focus is on building a better world online, restoring trust in information, and, above all, uplifting communities.

(Source: Reuters)