**Title: Community Spirit Turkey Drive Rescued by Generous Donations**

The annual Community Spirit Turkey Drive in Calgary was saved from cancellation thanks to an overwhelming response from the community. More than 150 turkeys were donated within an hour of the event's planned cancellation on Sunday.

Gar Gar, the founder of the turkey drive, initially announced that the event would be called off due to a disappointing number of donations. "We decided to cancel the Community Spirit Turkey Drive because we only received eight turkeys, and within a couple of minutes, we saw an outpour of support from the community, and it is still unbelievable to see the amount of community coming together," Gar said.

The drive is set to take place at the Forest Heights Community Association, which has generously offered to host the event at no cost. Gar expressed pride in the community's response, stating, "This is the Calgary I am so proud to be part of, so proud to raise my family in, and never a step behind."

This year, Gar anticipates distributing between 200 and 250 turkeys to families in need for Thanksgiving. He noted that last year, the drive provided around 150 turkeys. However, he also acknowledged a growing need, saying, "We are seeing anywhere from 250 to 450 families that are in need. It’s sad to see it keep rising, while the amount of involvement declines."

Despite the challenges, Gar emphasized the importance of bringing families together for the holiday. He reflected on the spirit of giving, stating, "The best way to do it was to help give a Thanksgiving and give thanks to Calgary and Calgarians that could have been left behind."

Gar expressed gratitude to the community for their support, saying, "Thank you to all the Calgarians that never deter, let any adversities or obstacles get in their way. Even with the affordability crisis, we have seen people that need help and are saying they don’t have enough, still coming forward with something they would like to share."

He concluded by sharing his joy in reversing the cancellation of the event, highlighting the collective effort that made it possible. "I think that’s the community I’m so proud to be part of, and why I’m so proud to be a Calgarian."