KIND-HEARTED Freemasons have made a donation to ensure children get their day off to the best possible start.

Hundreds of pounds have been donated to buy breakfast packs for children in East Lothian who are missing out on free school meals during the Covid-19 lockdown.

So far, their efforts have helped provide more than 1,000 meals to children in 90 households in Prestonpans, Port Seton, Cockenzie, Wallyford, Musselburgh and Tranent.

The Masons, members of Lodge Thorntree 1038 in Prestonpans, got together with Calum and Michelle Wilson, proprietors of the Prestoungrange Gothenburg in the town.

The pub was donated to the local community by the Baron of Prestongrange 15 years ago.

He decreed it should be run along the Gothenburg Principle, which originated in the Swedish city of that name.

Consequently, 95 per cent of profits are ploughed back into projects which benefit the local community.

Staff at the pub were concerned that during lockdown some children would miss out on a nutritional meal.

Calum and Michelle started by organising delivery packs containing cereal, milk, fruit juice, fresh fruit and tea or coffee every Monday morning.

Initially, the food was paid for courtesy of donations made by Calum and Michelle and members of the community.

But now many others have joined in the fundraising efforts.

Chief among them are the members of Lodge Thorntree, who have raised £300.

Pete Barrie, of Lodge Thorntree, said: “It was a privilege to hand over a donation of £300 to Michelle and Calum Wilson to assist them in the provision of breakfast packs to schoolchildren in our area who are from vulnerable homes. It’s a tremendous effort which the brethren of Lodge Thorntree 1038 are glad to assist.”

Calum added: “The lodge has done us proud and we can’t thank them enough.

“I would also like to thank our local Morrisons supermarket, who donated over 200 Easter Eggs in April.”