Sussexes statement about Californian wildfires

[PrettyFlyforaMaiTai]

Meghan and Harry have released a statement in regards to the California wildfire via their Sussex.com website.

It reads:

”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.
A state of emergency has been issued.
If you feel compelled to help, here are some resources and ideas:
Support
Organizations such as José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen, which has been a longtime partner of The Archewell Foundation, are serving meals to both first responders and victims of the fire.
CAL FIRE and LA Fire Department Foundation and others are working closely to support firefighters who risk their lives, bravely showing up in these high-risk environments to help save homes, families, and communities in need.
Animal Wellness Foundation is continuing to house and care for animals evacuated by the fires while Compton Cowboys is providing emergency transportation services for horses.
Airbnb and 211LA have partnered to provide free, temporary housing for those who have been displaced.

Baby2baby is providing essential supplies including diapers, clothing, hygiene products, and emergency kits to families in need.
All Power Books and many others are staying open for emergency use, offering supplies and water for pickup while working tirelessly to distribute essentials to those affected.

Open your home
If a friend, loved one, or pet has to evacuate and you are able to offer them a safe haven in your home, please do. And be sure to check in with any disabled or elderly neighbors to see if they need help evacuating.
Give back
Some families and people have been left with nothing. Please consider donating clothing, children’s toys & clothing, and other essentials. The American Red Cross is on the ground helping those in need.”

@itsstillmehere "They have opened their own home? Is there a link for this ?"

To be fair, I don't think anyone is suggesting that people "open their homes". Just that they offer a home to friends and loved ones and their pets. Which is a very different thing.

What I'm hoping is that awful event will prompt many rich, articulate and well connected people to speak out about the climate emergency.

I am glad to see the post and as I haven’t seen any other referral for local organisations . This is a positive act and no one should be put down for writing a helpful post like Meghans I would like to see the negative posters here contribute to one of these charities to help rather than criticise !

I'd like to know what they are doing in practical terms to help.

CBS and ABC put out lists last night. I found them when I googled " donate California wildfires". It looks as though their PR copied the lists.

Jamie Lee Curtis and her family are donating $1 million to the LA Fire Dept.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/video/jamie-lee-curtis-donate-1m-wildfire-relief-efforts-video/

Doesn't Meghan's mother allegedly own a senior home care company? Has she been out checking on the elderly?

Really must find out if all the famous people who have been posting about this, if their Mothers have been out checking on the elderly. Do hope so

Maybe this is a good opportunity for everyone on here to make a small donation to one of the organisations linked to in the message? World Central Kitchen, for example, does amazing work throughout the world and you can donate easily via ApplePay.

All Power Books take Venmo. Animal Wellness Foundation take PayPal. Compton Cowboys looks to be a fascinating organization, but I can't at first glance see an easy donation route. Baby2Baby take cards.

I think wealthy Californians need to face up to climate reality and the rich residents' part in it.

Emissions caused by wealthiest 1% so far this year would take someone from poorest 50% three years to create.

There are calls for increased taxes on climate-polluting examples of extreme wealth such as private jets.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/10/worlds-richest-use-up-their-fair-share-of-2025-carbon-budget-in-10-days

On Instagram this morning, almost every US celebrity I follow is sharing the same information as the Sussexes. There is obviously a great need to get information out to as many people as possible. Social media posts can be effective for this.

I am not sure why they are getting criticism for doing so.

Actually you’re right, but I wouldn’t characterise myself as a “supporter”. I leaped to Meghan-only because I’m fresh off the back of a wave of Meghan threads in the past few days where she’s been torn apart for everything from her dog dying to having an Instagram. I imagine other posters have the same mindset, that this is going to be another Meghan-bashing thread.

To clarify that it’s about the Sussexes both, I maintain that: (a) there’s nothing wrong with them using their platform to signal-boost information, (b) they’re damned if they do, damned if they don’t, and (c) it’s her that’ll get ripped apart far more than him. On a thread about her new show, a fairly innocuous “flowers and cake” lifestyle thing, she got called a cunt and told she “brings no benefit to the human race”. Harry gets a bit of stick but nothing on her level and my instinct is to get in early to try to counter the inevitable vitriol.

100% this so easy to thin well surely people know but actually it's surprising how many people would still ask hoencan I help. Reinforcing messages like this helps to let people know and as you and others have said it'll reach more people too.

It wouldnt natter what they wrote anyway some of you will always criticise them, nothing they do will ever be okay.

It is a terrible situation.

Heartbreaking to think of the animals trapped as well.

this is a practical guide of how to help.

Didn’t Meghan grow up in LA? It probably is hitting her hard.

@GooseMoose2 The Animal Wellness Foundation takes donations via PayPal.

I think it’s mostly positive. Some of these charities will have been highlighted elsewhere but not everyone will have seen them, so it’s always worth doing, even if it helps just one person. Their statement has been reported in most media so there’s lots of exposure for these charities and it helps signpost those that need them.

They have left themselves open to criticism though. People don’t like being told to do something like “donate” or “open up your home” unless the original person is also contributing. And as they haven’t said they are (although they most probably are), people will accuse them of preaching but not acting.

I think the ‘from the office of…’ is a bit wanky. A statement on her newly opened Instagram account would have been more personable and less pompous.

100%

I wanted a discussion, and with all the replies actually talking about the subject manner (not those trying to tell people what they can and cannot post) I would say I have been moderately successful in doing that. There have been some positive replies, some negative ones and some really lovely ones suggesting those that can could donate to some of the local charities.

Perhaps you should have a day off from trying to police Mumsnet and telling people what people can and cannot post?

I couldn't agree more. All those private jets and multiple cars, air con etc. it really can't continue.
It's not good enough for them to claim "offset".

I would class it as a helpful list of resources more than a 'statement'. They've probably, wisely, avoided platitudes such as 'our thoughts are with those who have lost their homes' because they don't want their acknowledgement picked apart.

Agree. It’s a terrible tragedy. Not the time to be picking apart the wording of a statement.

Amen to that!

What will it take for people to wake up to this? Maybe, as you say, once it begins to affect those who are normally cushioned from the effects of climate catastrophe, something will change??

That's what I'm thinking. Maybe reflect on how many times private jets are used for starters.

@Rhaidimiddim - yeah I wonder that too?..