Children sent Valentine's cards to elderly at Harlawhill Day Care Centre

Staff at the Prestonpans centre, who have been supporting members stuck at home during lockdown, sent out an appeal on social media for youngsters to send Valentine’s cards to their clients.

Children from Camperdown Nursery and Preston Lodge High School were among the participants sending in artwork.

Sarah Morrison, the mother of eight-year-old Valentine’s Day card creator Abbie, said that Harlawhill Day Centre had always been a massive part of the Prestonpans community.

She said: “We often see Facebook posts about the work that Harlawhill do for the elderly and how happy it makes the members.

“Abbie loves to do crafts and wanted to make a card to cheer up some of the elderly community.”

More than 150 pieces of artwork were submitted by kind schoolchildren and hand-delivered to Harlawhill members, with cards also shared with elderly residents at Johnny Moat Place retirement housing.

Dorothy Clyde, an 84-year-old Harlawhill member and artist, judged the competition and awarded prizes to several children for their creative work.

Lynn Hanratty’s daughter Lori was delighted to be awarded a prize for her love-themed card.

Lynn thanked the staff at Harlawhill. She said: “We know a few people who attend the centre, and Fiona [Mitchell, manager] and her team have done a great job keeping the members going during this difficult last year.”

The heart-warming cards contained touching messages, with one reading: “Stay happy, stay safe.”

Another read: “Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day, here’s a song: ‘We’ll meet again, I don’t know where, I don’t know when, but I know we’ll meet again.’”

Harlawhill Day Centre thanked their supporters on Facebook last week in a post that said: “Thank you to all the children who took the time to make cards and our supporters who donated cakes and roses.

“Your efforts have made such a difference and we could not do a fraction of what we do without your continued support.”