Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Dayna McAlpine

Coronavirus school closures: East Lothian pub goes viral after launching free breakfasts for vulnerable kids

With schools and nurseries closing for the foreseeable future on Friday there have been a lot of questions raised as to what is going to happen to Scotland's most vulnerable children.

Many parents rely on school breakfast clubs to ensure that their kids get a good start to the day and there are fears as to how these wee ones are going to be fed once the school gates begin to close.

However one pub in Prestonpans, East Lothian has come up with a selfless solution.

Writing on Facebook the Prestoungrange Gothenburg public house in Prestonpans announced: "We want to offer parents who rely on free school meals the chance to bring their children down for breakfast from Monday 23 March until as long as we are open.

"We do not judge, we just care and want to support our community as best as we can."

The post, which has now been shared almost 700 times, outlines that the breakfast club is open to children only and no adult meals will be provided.

One person commented: "This actually just made me cry! You guys are amazing.️ I will happily donate to help you with this."

Another said: "What a kind and caring thing to do - it warms your heart when you hear stories like this."

Speaking to Edinburgh Live this morning, business owner Michelle Wilson explained why she decided to launch the service: "We actually have a teacher in our family and just from listening to their worries about the school closures one thing was clear - many kids weren’t going to fed properly because a lot of children go to school without breakfast.

"It broke my heart to think that kids were going to school hungry in the first place and now with the school closures how are they meant to be fed - it's a long time during the night and to wake up unfed."

The pub are also taking extensive measures to make sure social contact is as minimal as possible Michelle explained: "We are literally doing everything we can to go beyond the measures we're supposed to take - hand sanitiser will be available, disposable plates and cups will be used, only parents will handle their child's food, there's no handling of cash because everything will be free.

"All you have to do is come, eat and go."

Locals have also been donating supplies to the pub to held with the expected high volume of attendees.

"If you'd like to donate to help out we're taking loafs of bread, cereal and fruit juice," said Michelle.

"Originally our idea was just to feed the children of Prestonpans but after the demand for help was obvious we've opened the service up to everyone."

The Prestoungrange Gothenburg is also currently offering home delivery meals to the elderly. They'll be running their children's breakfast club every morning from 10am.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.