What a hero

The C&C foundation handed out 1,000 turkeys, chickens, and toys (Image: C&C Foundation)

South London’s kindest musician has made at least 3,000 Christmases by handing out chickens, turkeys, and toys. Fekky, 37, from Deptford, spent yesterday (Saturday, December 21) giving out industrial amounts of meat and gadgets across London to less fortunate members of the local communities.

It was done in partnership with his charity C&C Foundation (named after his sons Capree and Cuben), and saw donations from Lidl, Wingstop, Skepta, Enterprise Cars, and Ed Sheeran. Of the 1,000 chickens and turkeys shared out, 500 of each were halal to cater for different members of the community.

Last year the rapper – who prefers not to share his real name – gave out 4,000 turkeys on Deptford High Street, but chose branch out on the fifth anniversary of the grand giveaway. Fekky, who now lives on his farm in Kent, told MyLondon that he’d particularly like to thank Ed Sheeran who he says is incredibly kind.

A kid over the moon at how Fekky made his Christmas (Image: C&C Foundation)
The 37-year-old said: “He’s very, very supportive of the C&C foundation and is like a brother to me. He really, really helps when it comes to things that I want to do with C&C Foundation. We’re so grateful for always coming through to help whenever he can.”

Fekky said the Enterprise-donated vans pull up at community markets – such as Lewisham, Brixton, and Hackney – as this is where the true essence of the communities are found, in his view. He said: “We won’t go to Oxford Street or a huge shopping centre. We’ll go to Lewisham market, or Hackney market, we go to the grassroots.

“We also have a foodbank we do every Thursday at the C&C foundation in Lee [Lewisham] from 1pm until 3pm, so we have a good idea from our users where to go [to give out the goods].”

But what he finds most rewarding is that he can give back to a community where he himself grew up poor in. He added that he finds life was easier when he was child, so he can only begin to imagine the struggles families face in 2024.

The rapper said: “My parents did what they what they could [when he was a child]. It wasn’t the best Christmas, but we still had a good family spirit. As time has gone on, I feel like things have got a lot harder and things are a lot more expensive.”

“I know how hard it can be and coming from where I did, it’s a blessing to be able to speak with Nando’s, or Skepta.”

‘There’s no shame in asking for help’

Fekky said there is zero shame in asking for help (Image: C&C Foundation)
Fekky added that there is zero shame in accepting a turkey from him, even adding that his mum took one. “Taking from us is like borrowing sugar from your neighbour. Nobody feels embarrassed, it’s known that giving out food is something C&C foundation wants to do. We’re part of the community.”

‘Communities should always help each other’

A strong sense of community is huge for Fekky (Image: C&C Foundation)
The rapper – known for songs such as Bu Bu Bang, and South Of The Thames – said that he feels a sense of community is essential, and he benefits massively from this growing up. He said: “When I was growing up and my parents had to go to work, they’d say ‘you’re going to be looked after by your next door neighbour’. This of course helped them in going to go to work.

“I feel like it’s really important for everyone to feel like we’re together. So when times are hard we feel like we’ve got each other. This is what I’m trying to promote with C&C foundation as I believe in helping one another.”

It’s a mix of emotions when people receive their goods from the C&C foundation, and yesterday was no exception. Fekky said some people cried, some prayed for him, some said they now had more cash for the big day. “You see different types of people from different types of struggles, and some people just want a hug.”

He added how emotional he finds out seeing people breakdown as they can’t conceive that people would be out there to help them, and how keen recipients were to have “C&C foundation around for the next 10 years.”

Fekky’s only disappointment was not being able to help more people, but he understands resources are limited due to the economic climate.

‘Don’t be anxious if resources are right this Christmas’

There is zero shame in asking for help, says the rapper (Image: C&C Foundation)
In a message for people anxious over not in a position to celebrate Christmas, he said: “Don’t be. If you’re anxious about not having resources, don’t be scared to ask. Whether there’s a charity or someone you might know, just look online and try and find charities and stuff like that that you can reach out to and see and ask for help. There’s no shame.