For Jeanette Duffy and the members of her caroling group, Christmas will look a little different this year.

“Every year, we have enjoyed going out to sing in the bars and restaurants where we’re all normally hanging out,” Duffy said. “Since we wanted to keep things safe this year, but we also knew that this was the year people needed the cheer more than ever, this was the year Queens needed the support more than ever, we’re going to be singing virtually”

It's no small feat for the singers, who are used to performing not only in person, but in sync.

“We made a medley of the songs that we normally do. Like our five greatest hits,” said Libby Boland, musical director of Caroling for Charity. “They recorded themselves singing it, sent it in to me, and I then I took that now and I’m constructing that into a choir video.”

Their setlist includes some classic favorites, like “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” with a twist: the choir replaces the lyric, “Oh, bring us some figgy pudding" with “Oh, bring us a shot of Jamo.” 

The group Caroling for Charity grew out of the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Founding member Ashley Balavender says it happened organically.

“The morale felt just kind of low in the city, and we thought it would be fun to do to raise spirits, and we also decided to try and raise a little bit of money,” said Balavender.

Since 2012, the group has grown. Every year, as their name suggests, they raise money for a local charity — typically, by passing a hat around the bar, but this year, they’re raising money through a virtual fundraiser for Queens Community House’s COVID-19 relief fund, which will benefit families in need in the borough.

Duffy says she hopes with a video, they have the potential to reach even more people.

“It’s exciting to go out and pass our hat around and collect cash, but now by being online, we hope we can really spread the word,” said Duffy.

And during a holiday season, where so many people are disconnected, most of all, the singers hope to bring people together, to offer a song, a laugh and a brief respite from the pandemic.