Annual turkey drive aims to feed 300 Calgary families in need this holiday season

The rising cost of food is placing some Calgary families in a difficult financial position this holiday season, but a turkey drive on Wednesday evening hopes to bring a little extra joy to those in need.

Kulinary Records, a local digital media and recording company based in Calgary, is hosting its annual turkey drive from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Max Bell Arena parking lot where volunteers plan to hand out 300 turkeys.

The initiative is financed by the company’s co-founders Mike Foss and Farid Hamdan along with generous donations from others throughout the year.

“We’re fortunate to have a little bit extra so we save up as much as we can to help others out,” said Hamdan.

“There’s no better feeling than seeing kids taking pictures with Santa at our event and deserving people actually getting to go home with a nice frozen turkey, just knowing they’re going to have a great Christmas.”

Foss added that the price of is particularly impacting the ability of the average family to afford a turkey, which is why an event like Wednesday night's turkey drive are more important than ever.

“We need it in Calgary right now, and the demand for food all over, whether it's kids trying to get lunches on their table at school or people trying to get a hot turkey on the table to feed their family at Christmas,” he said.

“We're in tough times right now, and the least that I could do is help out with food.”

Turkey price declining

The average cost of a turkey is down eight per cent over the last five years from $57.40 to $52.84 in 2024, according to data provided by Statistics Canada.

That said, several other items for a Christmas meal have skyrocketed in price over that time period including mashed potatoes (up 31 per cent), coffee and tea (up 28 per cent), biscuits (up 27 per cent) , and green beans (up 17 per cent).

It’s why receiving a turkey helps to offset some of those costs for people like Kate Felt and her two daughters Drea and Iyla.

“It’s really tough times for everybody and with our economy so I don’t think anybody really wouldn’t benefit from a turkey or groceries,” said Felt.

“Giving back and being able to receive something like this is so nice," Felt added. "There is truly so much support in all of the communities around the city.”

Felt added that teaching her children the value in giving back is truly the most rewarding part.

“I always tell them to be kind, that acts of kindness go a long way and things like this will reflect on families for years to come," he said.

The Kulinary Records Turkey Drive has 300 turkeys this year, but hopes to increase its donation up to 600 birds for next year.