CRAIG Hoy, a Conservative MSP for South Scotland, has praised Our Community Kitchen in Haddington for working to reduce social isolation and provide healthy home cooked meals for residents of the town.
Mr Hoy, who is Scotland’s Shadow Minister for Mental Health, joined Founder and Manager of Our Community Kitchen Elaine Gale on a visit last week.
The kitchen and recently developed garden area has over 120 regular users.
As well as offering healthy home cooked meals, the kitchen gives carers and those who they care for opportunities to come in for a meal and company.
Hoy said: “Our Community Kitchen is a vital resource for so many residents of Haddington and the surrounding area.
“The kitchen, which runs from Haddington Bowling Club brings people together around one large table to enjoy fresh, healthy home-cooked food allowing for friendships and connections to form. It also delivers homemade frozen food for people at home from the second lockdown.
“Our Community Garden has also been established at Meadow park School playground in Haddington, to bring people of all ages together to plant, grow, learn about fresh food, and cook outdoors in the garden area. The aim is to form friendships and connections, whilst providing a learning space.
“It’s a great way of bringing people together and tackling social isolation, as well as promoting healthy eating in Haddington and supporting carers and those in need of care.”
Elaine Gale from Our Community Kitchen said: “We have an epidemic of loneliness and social isolation across Scotland and we have created a charity here in Haddington to bring people together to form friendships over some good food.
“We have all benefited by making friendships, many of which have extended our across our community with people, for example, meeting up for coffee or going to the cinema.
“OCK has a wonderful atmosphere and we would never be able to deliver what we do without our fantastic staff team, and volunteers, who work very hard. Also, the support from Haddington Bowling Club has always been outstanding.”
Our Community Kitchen operates from 12:00-16:00, Tuesday - Friday, at Haddington Bowling Club.
If you are interested in getting involved please contact [email protected] or visit their Our Community Kitchen’s Facebook page at @ourcommunitykitcheneastlothian.
