Food bank appeals for donations with 'joyous' remake of The Twelve Days of Christmas

A food bank has created a “joyous and slightly ramshackle” Christmas music video to inspire people to donate this festive season.

The team at Southend Foodbank got together with ‘local folk heroes’, brilliantly named The Famous Potatoes, and have created their own version of The Twelve Days of Christmas.

But they’ve switched out the famous lyrics (partridge in a pear tree, two turtle doves, three french hens… we could go on) with the food donations they most need this Christmas.

Cass Francis, communications and campaigns coordinator at Southend Foodbank, had the idea for The Twelve Crates of Christmas earlier this year.

“I’d half-jokingly asked our volunteer Keith Baxter if the folk band he’s in would be interested in recording it,” Francis said. “It all became a reality in October when I wrote the new words, and The Potatoes set about recording it.

“We wanted the song to be joyous and slightly ramshackle in nature – and I think that’s exactly what we’ve managed to achieve. The video was especially fun to record – and we hope this comes across.”

• How to donate toys and charity Christmas gifts to children
• Here’s how to donate to a food bank near you this winter

Francis previously spoke to The Big Issue about the struggles they are facing at the food bank and the worries she has going into the winter.

“We’ve got no way of knowing how we’re going to survive this winter. We really don’t. I shouldn’t be saying that really but it’s the truth,” she said. “We’re not the only ones in this situation. We are literally desperate.”

Southend Foodbank is currently spending more than £10,000 a month to top up food donations, which aren’t stretching far enough as demand continues to soar in the cost of living crisis.

It has seen a 59% increase in the number of emergency food parcels this year compared to last. This is the most parcels the food bank has ever provided.

Francis added: “We just don’t have the finances available to buy Christmas extras to give to our guests the way we normally would, so this Christmas food-drive is really our way of encouraging people to think about others – to help spread the hope and goodwill the season brings.”

Instead of waiting for your true love to send you golden rings and geese-a-laying this Christmas, why not give mince pies or cans of tuna to a food bank? Every donation helps and makes a difference to someone relying on food banks to survive this Christmas.

The song is available on your usual streaming platform – Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, Amazon Music, YouTube Music. Listen to it here.

You can find more details on Southend Foodbank’s most needed items, and donation points here. And find out how to donate to a food bank near you here.