B.C. girl inspired by Hollywood star to donate turkeys to local families in need

Saanich, B.C. -

When Maria-Clara Patrick first watched that video of Arnold Schwarzenegger, she assumed they had nothing in common.

“He’s 77 (years old),” Maria-Clara says. “While I’m 11.”

He’s a famous movie star and former governor, she says. "While I just go to middle school.”

And then there are Arnold's vices.

“He drinks beers and smokes cigars,” Maria-Clara says, before laughing. “I just drink chocolate milk.”

But then, Maria-Clara noticed what Arnold was doing in that video — handing out 1,000 turkeys to people in need.

“I was inspired,” Maria-Clara smiles.

She was motivated to help families in her neighbourhood say “hasta la vista” to hunger over the holidays and contacted the Shelbourne Community Kitchen.

“We work to connect good people with good food,” says the charity’s executive director Kim Cummins.

Kim says that Maria-Clara is striving to donate 77 turkeys for the kitchen’s clients' Christmas dinners, the same number as Arnold’s age.

“Like the Grinch, my heart grew three sizes,” Kim recalls with a smile. “It was such a heartwarming story.”

Now, Maria-Clara is in the midst of a fundraising mission to pay for her pledge, which began with creating a slideshow presentation to inspire her Grade 6 classmates to join the cause, by making a commitment to their parents.

“If (the students) do chores for a week,” Maria-Clara explains, “their parents get to donate $25.”

Maria-Clara is also donning a festive hat and carrying an informative poster to make presentations at local markets, her martial arts class, and to random strangers she meets during her day.

“I think children like Maria-Clara remind us just how important it is to take care of each other,” Kim says. “And how simple it is it be kind and generous.”

While most of us have nothing in common with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria-Clara says if we combine kindness with action, like the Terminator, you’ll be saying “I’ll be back.”

“Because it makes you feel happy when you help people out,” Maria-Clara smiles.