EAST Lothian Foodbank’s jingle bag appeal has kicked off in style, as local primary schools gathered to sing in support of the cause.

The foodbank, on Civic Square in Tranent, started the annual appeal last month and the team began handing out the bags on December 1.

Anyone referred to the foodbank from December 1 to 24 will receive a standard food parcel, as well as a jingle bag – which contains all the essentials needed for a Christmas dinner.

Staff have also included a top tips instruction book on how to turn the contents into a tasty Christmas meal.

Donations continue to be welcomed, while people can donate specifically for the jingle bags at justgiving.com/campaign/JingleBags

Lucy Daniels, communications and outreach manager, said: “Last year we handed out 226 jingle bags at the foodbank and supported a further 330 via partner organisations.

“Sadly, we’re expecting to exceed this number this year based on the number of food parcels we’ve given out in the last couple of months.

“We know it’s not been an easy year for many people and it’s not looking like it’s going to get any easier. Hopefully, receiving our Christmas dinner in a bag will ease some of the burden.”

Additionally, pupils from Cockenzie Primary School, East Linton Primary School and East Linton Rainbows banded together to sing in support for the foodbank in their rendition of ‘Jingle Bags’.

To watch the captioned version of the video, visit bit.ly/3DVcpgx

Joanna Burns, referral co-ordinator, said: “Coming together to sing is such a great thing and something we’ve not been able to do a lot of in recent months.

“We thought it would be a fun way to spread the word about our jingle bags campaign and are so happy that Cockenzie and East Linton children wanted to be involved.

“This year, we’ll also be including a wee bell in the parcels which our partners at Home-Start East Lothian have supplied us with and these will go in with a wee note saying ‘the bell still rings for those who truly believe’.

For more information about the jingle bags, visit eastloth i an.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/jingle-bags