A great-great-gran has been making huge vats of soup which can feed 80 people struggling during the coronavirus pandemic – for just £14.
Sheila Clark, 81, has been forced to stay inside due to her age but potters around in her garden to keep busy.
Community-spirited Sheila, who was widowed 33 years ago, was concerned that vulnerable people may be struggling to eat.
So she has been making enormous vats of lentil soup, which cost just £14 to make but can feed more than 70 people, at a community centre – the only time she leaves the house.
All that is needed to make the soup is seven packs of lentils, four bags of carrots, a large onion, vegetable stock and salt and pepper.
The generous great-great-gran-of-two cooks the soup – and then her daughter Lizzy Halstead, 57, distributes it to people in need along with husband Shane, 59, and son Shane Jnr, 39.
Sheila said: “Whenever there is an event on at the community centre I make a big pot of soup, so when I heard that people were struggling I thought ‘why not try to help out’.
“I chose to make lentil soup because it is the cheapest to make, I can feed more people for less money, it only costs about £14 to feed around 70 people.
“When I make it I’m in the kitchen on my own to make sure that I am still sticking to the social-distancing rules.
“The soup pot is so big I need some help to lift it and it has to be taken outside to be cleaned.
“I’ll make the soup as long as the coronavirus is here and people need help.
“It’s good for all the old folk that can’t make it themselves.
“I like making the soup and helping out, it’s a long day in the house on my own so it gives me something to look forward to.
“Since the lockdown started it has been horrible.
“I can’t go out at all, the only time I have been able to go out is when I go to the community centre to make my soup.
“It really has been terrible, I’m lucky I have a garden as it means that I can get out for some fresh air.”
Sheila, who lives in Linktown, Kirkcaldy, says that since the coronavirus crisis started people have come together to help each other out.
The mum-of-five has lived there all her life and has nine grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
Sheila said: “All the people in my scheme are going the extra mile to help one another, there are a lot of people who are struggling nowadays, it’s hard for everyone.
“I think when this is all over more people will appreciate their community a lot more.
“Everyone is helping where they can, the shopkeepers here have been very good as well, making sure people can get what they need.
“My grandchildren are in a pipe band and have been coming to my street every week to play for me and all the other people in the street.
“They have also been outside care homes as well to help cheer all the residents up.”
Proud daughter Lizzy added: “It gets her out a wee bit, we’ve got to do social distancing.
“If people are not able to collect it, we will deliver it to them.
“One pot can feed 70 or 80 people, it’s so cheap.
“People are so grateful and it can go in the freezer.”
The mum-of-two works in childcare and has been furloughed due to the pandemic.
She added: “I think it gives my mum some satisfaction as well.”