Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (Instagram, @sussexroyal) The South African charity Lunchbox Fund raised $30,000 in ten days after receiving support from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The Royals asked fans to donate to charities such as Lunchbox Fund instead of sending them gifts for the birth of their first child. Lunchbox said the new donations allow them to prepare an additional 120,000 meals for the 27,000 children it feeds daily across South Africa. Visit BusinessInsider.co.za for more stories. After Prince Harry and Meghan Markle asked fans to donate to the South African charity Lunchbox Fund , the non-profit raised more than $30,000, or roughly R420,000, in ten days.

This will allow it to prepare an additional 120,000 meals for the 27,000 children it feeds daily across South Africa, Lunchbox Fund managing director Sue Wildish told Business Insider South Africa.

Earlier this month, Harry and Meghan requested in an Instagram post that instead of sending them gifts for the birth of their first child, fans should make a donation to one of four charities.

The Lunchbox Fund were on their list, alongside food and clothes bank Little Village HQ in Italy, mental health non-profit WellChild in the UK, and childcare agency Baby2Baby in the US.

“If you already made a donation, the couple sends you their greatest thanks,” the caption of the Instagram post read.

“If you are thinking about it, they ask that you kindly consider the following organisations they’ve selected, which we will highlight here over the next few days.”

View this post on Instagram What an incredibly special surprise the grassroots led #globalsussexbabyshower was last Sunday! The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are immensely grateful for the outpouring of love and support in anticipation of the birth of their first child. In lieu of sending gifts, the couple have long planned to encourage members of the public to make donations to select charities for children and parents in need. If you already made a donation, the couple send you their greatest thanks. If you are thinking about it, they ask that you kindly consider the following organisations they’ve selected, which we will highlight here over the next few days: @thelunchboxfund @littlevillagehq @wellchild @baby2baby The Duke and Duchess remain appreciative for your warm wishes and kindness during this especially happy time in their lives! Thank you for sharing the love ??

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on Apr 5, 2019 at 8:17am PDT

Wildish said they were first contacted by the Duchess’ office on April 4. A representative said Meghan has seen their work and would like to know more.

After a brief conversation with her staff, Wildish heard back from the Duchess’ office a day later who requested images they could use on social media.

The email from the Duchess’ office read: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are inspired by the work that the Lunchbox Fund does, and would very much like to shine a light on your organisation by highlighting it through their recently set-up Instagram channel.”

Meghan and Harry’s Instagram channel officially launched on April 2.

(Instagram, @thelunchboxfund) Wildish said since the royal’s post, they’ve received contributions from 320 supporters in 13 countries.

“This is incredible for a charity that is based in South Africa,” Wildish said. “It allows us to serve 600 children a hot meal each school day for a full school year.”

The Lunchbox Fund was launched in 2005 to feed 100 children in a high school in Soweto, and today has a feeding programme in every South African province.

(Instagram, @thelunchboxfund) Wildish explained that school feeding programmes have proved to increase levels of school enrolment, daily attendance and retention.

She said the royal support proved that they have their priorities clear and has an honest intent.

“This is modern philanthropy: hands-on and committed; taking who you are and what you do and turning it into a sustainable vehicle for change.”

South African company helped WhatsApp conquer the world - and it believes your business should start a ‘chat’ service right now A South African crypto-wallet startup – which backs an embattled form of bitcoin – just landed R18 million in funding This Garmin We More South African animal feed and pet food now contain insect larvae - thanks in part to Bill Gates