Give Thanks and Be the Person You Needed When You Were Younger -
A Thanksgiving Holiday Recipe From Our Family to Yours

By: Matthew Calvert

For so many of our matches, cooking or baking is what first brought them together. It’s a part of shared milestones, conversations, and traditions. For Little Sister Makayla and her Big Sister Anna, baking means a chance for quality time to share traditions and inspiration for what comes next.

Anna and Makayla were first matched back in January of 2023, and in their almost two years together they’ve already done a lot. Anna moved to Chicago after years in Kansas City and was looking for a way to get to know the city and build community. She was matched with Makayla, who is the youngest of five siblings along with her twin, and was excited to have a new friend to explore with and take advantage of everything that Chicago has to offer.

They went to the beach over the summer and Anna helped Makayla learn to swim and be confident in the water. When the weather got colder, they checked out the Christkindlmarket in Wrigleyville and Makayla got to ice skate for the first time. But one thing they’ve always loved to do together is bake. From cakes to Christmas cookies to impressive decorations, the two have loved spending time together in the kitchen, and the conversations that arise while waiting for the oven timer to go off.

Anna’s motto when joining BBBS was to be who she needed when she was younger. Though she had a fantastic support system growing up, the one thing she would have loved was a mentor who she could connect with as a teenager. Because of that she’s dedicated herself to mentorship in her adult life and looked for ways to help Makayla navigate school, relationships, and growing up today.

When they were first matched Makayla “didn’t want to talk to anybody” and would act reserved. But over their time together, Makayla has come out of her shell. The match attended a BBBS event a few months ago and Anna noticed how much Makayla’s body language and attitude had changed. She talked to other Bigs and Littles, met in person with their Match Support Specialist, and was self-confident and open to having conversations on her own.

Both Anna and Makayla are big foodies and send each other cooking and restaurant videos they want to try. The match recently attended a Halloween-themed baking class at Give Me Some Sugar in Roscoe Village and got the chance to create their own cakes from scratch. Makayla’s mom Benita loves to bake as well and always bakes a cake for family birthdays and holidays, so she is excited to have Makayla help her out in the kitchen in the future.

The holidays have always been a time when Anna’s family loves spending time in the kitchen as well. Anna baked Christmas cookies with her mom growing up, and she was excited to pass on the tradition to her Little. Not only did Makayla take it seriously, but she did her Pinterest research, considered exactly what she wanted to make, and her cookies came out amazing!

While Anna and Makayla are only two years into their BBBS match, they’ve already accomplished and grown so much together. We’re excited to see what they bake next! And we’re excited to get to share with you the recipe Anna and Makayla made last year over the holidays. We wish you a very happy Thanksgiving and hope you spend it surrounded by good food and people you love.

From all of us at Big Brothers Big Sisters, thank you for being a part of our family and thank you for helping bring Bigs and Littles like Anna and Makayla together — this season and for years to come.

Looking to start your own recipe club? Sign up to be a volunteer or enroll your child today!