EAST Lothian Roots and Fruits has been handed a £1,000 boost from Hibernian Community Foundation, along with a signed ball and strip to support its work.

The Elphinstone food-based social enterprise received the donation from East Lothian MSP and Hibs fan Iain Gray, who is chairperson of the football club’s community foundation.

Pamela McKinlay, from the project, said: “The foundation has been a great support to our project in many ways over the past few months, especially when our project is facing challenging times.

“It is great to know that there are people out there who believe in our project and what we aim to do and support us.

“The money and the football items that they have donated to us will be put to good use and help us to continue the work that we do for the people and communities throughout East Lothian.

“We look forward to continuing working with them in the future.”

Roots and Fruits recently took over the village shop in Elphinstone as a new base for operations.

Mr Gray said: “As the local MSP I have long been a supporter of the work of East Lothian Roots and Fruits and their promotion of healthier eating across the county.

“So I was delighted in my role as chair of the foundation? to present them with a cheque for £1,000, along with a signed ball and signed strip, which was worn by Ryan Porteous in last season’s famous 5-5 draw with Rangers.

“This was a win-win for the foundation because we deliver a programme of work to encourage healthier lifestyles, including healthier eating, and we also do much of our work at the Hibernian Training Centre [at East Mains, near Ormiston] where Roots and Fruits, now based in Elphinstone, are our near-neighbours.

“We have ambitious plans to develop a new community facility at the training centre, with a community food element, so we are hoping to be doing much more in partnership with Roots and Fruits in the future.”

Brenda Black, project manager at Hibernian Community Foundation, added: “We are absolutely thrilled to offer Pam and her loyal team at Roots and Fruits a donation of a unique match-day top, ball and cheque for £1,000.

“We have been truly inspired by their commitment to serve and connect the local community through healthier food provision.

“It was great to meet their customers at the Elphinstone store and chat to them about getting out-and-about in East Lothian.”