BOOKS, toys and clothes have helped raise a ‘tasty’ sum for a community group dishing up piping hot meals.

Residents of Burnside, Clerkington Road and Fairway came together to do their bit for Our Community Kitchen.

The ‘yard sale’ collected £320 for the group, which meets in Haddington Bowling Club.

Elaine Gale, who founded Our Community Kitchen, was delighted with the success of the event at the beginning of the month.

She said: “It is just so lovely.

“[Support from the community] has been enormous really and the amount and sheer scale of support we have had locally for what we are doing is absolutely incredible.”

The money raised will go towards the general running costs of the group, which, pre-coronavirus, was serving up lunches to people who were suffering from isolation in the bowling club.

However, with social gatherings ruled out, the group decided to continue preparing meals but instead take them to people’s homes.

Meals such as chicken and leek pie and stovies have been delivered to homes throughout Haddington during the lockdown period.

That will be scaled back slightly as restrictions are eased but Elaine said they were still delivering more than 100 meals a week to people in need.

Volunteers have also been taking the time to phone vulnerable members of the community to check they are alright.

The scheme will continue and Elaine said: “As a charity, we are committed to looking after the community.

“That is part of what we will be doing going forward; that’s not going to stop.

“We recognise people will still need us.”