Initially, Corey Mace's ham and turkey drive was meant to spread love to Calgary Stampeders fans outside of the city of Calgary.

But it didn't take long for Mace to learn that Airdrie was a very special place, one that he's kind of fallen in love with.

"This is the fifth year now (for the drive) and from the very first year I found out this is a special community so every year my wife and I get so excited to give the bulk of our donations back to the Airdrie Food Bank.  We do other initiatives as well in Airdrie.  This community is amazing and I'm still trying to bring the wife out so I can get her to move out this way, you know," says Mace with a wink. 

On Saturday Mace was at the Airdrie Sobeys store trying to drum up more donations for his ham and turkey drive and he says doing that was no problem as Airdronians once again responded generously.

"It's been amazing.  It's been non-stop I mean there's two chairs over there and I haven't sat down once.  It's been non-stop today and we're on a record pace.  Hopefully, there's going to be a ton of birds coming to Airdrie this year.  I think 400 turkeys and hams was our goal this year and I think we're going to get it."

Monday morning, Mace will load up the turkeys and bring them to the Airdrie Food Bank warehouse for a noon delivery.  The turkey and ham drive happens every winter, led by Mace through the Stampeders Foundation. 

Mace says he knows that people can experience tough times.

"I came from Vancouver and for a time it was just my mother and I.  Times got a little harder than we expected or wanted them to and I know that's just a reality of life, no matter where you are.  Family's super important to my wife and I and I always remember about our Christmases and I can't remember every single toy that I got but I know the time spent around the table with the family. 

I know that during these hard times, families are working extra hard to give their kids the presents that they want.  We just want to give them the big piece of protein to have that memory around the table because we know that's what everyone's going to remember through the years.  If this is what we can do, it's the least we can do."  

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