‘We often take for granted the people that are always there for us’: Marvel’s Anthony Mackie teaming with United Way in effort to enrich essential grocery workers amid COVID-19 pandemic
Marvel’s Anthony Mackie is pooling his efforts with the United Way in his native Louisiana to set up United for Grocery Workers Relief Fund, a trust to aid grocery workers who’ve been putting themselves in harm’s way amid the coronavirus.
The 41-year-old actor said in a statement that ‘we often take for granted the people that are always there for us,’ and that he visits the ‘grocery store three to four times a week’ to stock up on food for his family.
The New Orleans native is working with the United Way of Southeast Louisiana, the New Orleans Council on Aging and Entergy New Orleans on the collection, which would give grocery store employees in the Orleans Parish area $150 toward their utilities bills from the latter, according to Deadline.
Giving back: Marvel’s Anthony Mackie, 41, is pooling his efforts with the United Way in his native Louisiana to set up United for Grocery Workers Relief Fund, a trust to aid grocery workers who’ve been putting themselves in harm’s way amid the coronavirus
The Altered Carbon actor continued: ‘Every time, I come face to face with essential workers who are providing me and so many others with one of the most important necessities, food.
‘Now, more than ever, it is important that we express our gratitude and appreciation.’
The multitalented entertainer, who’s been seen in movies, TV and Broadway, recently took over the role of Captain America for Disney+’s Falcon and the Winter Solider.
‘With the idea of being a black man and becoming Captain America, it’s been a daunting task because I think, at this day and age in America, I think we are open-minded to the idea of having my face represent us, as a country,’ Mackie told Shadow and Act.
Rising: The multitalented entertainer, who’s been seen in movies, TV and Broadway, recently took over the role of Captain America for Disney+’s Falcon and the Winter Solider in February
Heroes: The actor said he was appreciative of grocery store workers and focused on helping
He added that ‘to be Captain America, I want my Captain America to represent everybody. Not just a specific group of people.’
As of Monday, the death total for COVID-19 was at 111,751 people in the U.S., with 1,973,803 total positive diagnoses, Johns Hopkins University reported. On a global level, 411,009 people have died amid 7,227,869 positive diagnoses worldwide.
Stalwart: Mackie was seen in 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier