Defensive line coach of the Calgary Stampeders and Grey Cup Champion Corey Mace collected turkeys, ham and monetary donations inside of Airdrie's Sobeys to help raise food and money for local food banks.

 Mace says he loves coming ou to Airdrie to help in events and raise donations for the local food bank every winter, and that so far the donations have been coming in at a good pace.

"So far so good, we're off to a heck of a start going from yesterday, moving and transitioning into today in Airdrie. This is where we give most of our donations to, the community of Airdrie. My wife and I love this community, the people here are amazing and it shows."

Around this time of year, Mace believes that helping one another is very important and that every little bit counts.

"At the end of the day, it's all going to come down to helping those families in need over the holidays, and I said, we're off to incredible start and I think it's going to be an incredible finish."

Mace started spearheading his turkey/ham drive years back after talking to an employee at the Airdrie Food Bank and immediately felt like he wanted to help. Ever since then, he's been volunteering his time and effort every winter to raise donations for the food bank.

"You know, the first year that I set out, I had talked to Laurie from the food bank (and she) sold me right away.," remembers Mace. "Once you come out here and you realize how amazing people are out here, and there is a fan bass of Stampeders fans that live out this way. There's a lot of fans who might not have the opportunity to get down to Calgary for every event we have so I'm saying 'guess what? I'm coming to you guys', so you are appreciated and I'm making sure that as long as I'm here with this team in this city, I will always be in Airdrie."

All the money donated yesterday at Sobeys is going directly to the Airdrie Food Bank, while the food donations will be split with other food banks in Calgary. However, Mace says that Airdrie generally sees the most of it.

"More times than not, Airdrie's going to get the bulk of it."

After collecting 415 turkeys and hams last year, Mace set the goal even higher and believes that the citizens of Airdrie would be able to meet it.

"We set the goal for 500 this year. We'll see where that goes. I'm feeling confident; I'm hoping. We'll see the final count."

Mace says that he really believes locals should be doing their best to help others who may not be able to help themselves during the hard times.

"It's one of those things where there are people who might be struggling who might not think are. I just want to have everything available for anybody who needs it. There's no shame at all. I've been in a situation myself growing up where we needed the help too, and there's zero shame (...). Just to give back in any way that we can, it's just an initiative that me and my wife started. However, there have been thousands of people over the years who have donated, so this is a YYC thing."

On Monday, Mace will return to Airdrie to deliver the hams and turkeys, something he is very much looking forward to.

"That's always the fun part, is coming out on Monday to come back to Airdrie to give to the food bank."

 

Comments? Questions? Story ideas? Email us at news@discoverairdrie.com