A COMMUNITY pantry has opened in Macmerry to help people in need, with welcome support from eager youngsters and members of a local fitness class.

Macmerry & District Community Hub Pantry is open every second Saturday at Macmerry Miners Club on the village’s Main Road, between 10am and noon.

The facility has already received a boost from children at a local Rainbows and Brownies group, who donated provisions.

Members of a fitness class which runs at the club on Saturday mornings also helped to support the pantry, each donating £5 per week over the course of October and raising a total of £285.

The Macmerry Miners Club fitness group

Stuart Fleming, president of Macmerry Miners & Community Hub, was glad to see the “invaluable” impact the newly opened pantry was already having.

He said: “Just like other areas throughout the country, the past few years have seen our community impacted by Covid and the financial crisis.

"The community hub has been striving to provide a safe space for the community to come together to tackle mental wellbeing, loneliness and, during the colder months, a warm space.

"My thanks must also go to the community development team in Tranent, who have provided the committee with invaluable insight into how to establish and run a pantry."

He added that the response "really has been very humbling" and thanked those who had helped the project get off the ground, saying it "just highlights the community spirit here."

Stuart thanked the Hub committee for their hard work in getting the pantry open for use.

The community pantry serves Macmerry, Gladsmuir, Penston, Boggs Holdings and Greendykes.

Items are priced at £2 for five and £3 for 10. 

Donations of non-perishable food and toiletries, such as tins, packets and baby products, can be made to the club during its opening hours: Monday, 5-11pm; Thursday, 7pm-10pm; Friday, 3pm-1am; Saturday, 12pm-1am; and Sunday, 12.30pm-10pm.