A COMMUNITY project bringing people together through a love of food has received a cash boost from local police officers. Our Community Kitchen was formed in 2018 with a view to getting people round the dinner table and tackling social isolation. The group, based in Haddington Bowling Club, has been busy in recent weeks expanding its project to include Our Community Garden. The scheme aims to help reduce isolation and loneliness, with volunteers working with Knox Academy Meadowpark pupils. Now it has been boosted by a £2,000 donation from East Lothian Police Community Fund. Elaine Gale, founder of Our Community Kitchen, was delighted with the four-figure sum.
CARE home residents and vulnerable members of the community were given a helping hand to stay in touch with loved ones over the festive period. Haddington and District Community Council stepped in to buy more than a dozen tablet computers after concerns about people feeling isolated over Christmas. Ahead of Christmas, six tablets were handed over to Our Community Kitchen, with a further four delivered to Haddington Care Home and two to Hilton Lodge Nursing Home, on the town’s Court Street. Pat Lemmon, vice-chairwoman of the town’s community council, stressed the importance of making sure people could keep in touch with one another during a challenging festive period.
VOLUNTEERS left their presents and home comforts behind on Christmas Day to deliver tasty dinners to people throughout Haddington and surrounding villages. More than a dozen kind souls helped Our Community Kitchen to prepare and deliver piping hot meals to about 30 people in the community, who also received gifts. Turkey with all the trimmings, including roast potatoes, stuffing, parsnip and Brussels sprouts, were hand delivered, with some people even crying with gratitude. Youngsters at Haddington Primary School and Knox Academy’s Meadowpark had also made Christmas cards for those receiving the meals. Our Community Kitchen was formed in 2018 to tackle social isolation by bringing people together at Haddington Bowling Club for some food and a chat.
GENEROUS youngsters have risen to the challenge to support two good causes ahead of Christmas. Items of food donated by more than 100 youngsters from Knight Fever Dance have been passed on to Pennypit Community Development Trust and Our Community Kitchen. Gemma Knight, founder of the Haddington-based dance school, was overwhelmed by the kind-hearted gesture of the young dancers, who range in age from three to 18. She said: “I just could not believe the generosity of the kids and the families. “We have all had a rubbish year and we have all gone through rubbish and I just asked them to bring one thing in. They brought in bags.