It’s always a joyfully fun time when Mentoring Matches come together for group events, but our annual Holiday meetUP is extra meaningful. This event is about more than festivities; it’s about creating a warm, welcoming space where community and connection can flourish during a season that can feel complicated, especially for youth in foster care or who have experienced the system.
This year’s Holiday meetUP was intended to bring homey feelings of an old-time Christmas gathering with friends. Thanks to dedicated volunteers who led creative activities, the event had a special element of thoughtfulness. Other festive touches included a hot cocoa bar, holiday crafts, and one of the season’s most iconic traditions: cookie decorating.
Mentor Kristin, who also volunteers as a baker with Cake4Kids, truly made the day sweet (literally, with more than 6 pounds of powdered sugar!). After hours of prep to mix, roll out, and bake more than 100 cookies in 5 festive shapes, she also prepared 5 colors of homemade royal icing and packed dozens of mini piping bags for everyone.
Kristin and other amazing volunteers arrived early to set up cookie-decorating stations and transform a lovely apartment clubhouse into a festively welcoming space. Wintery decor also reflected elements of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza to honor the diversity within our community. As Mentoring Matches arrived, the room quickly filled with chatter and laughter amid holiday tunes. Mentees and Mentors mingled while eating tasty bites and warm hot chocolate.
Then, everyone gathered for cookie fun. Kristin guided the group through flood-decorating techniques, and once everyone got the hang of it, creativity took over. The perfectly golden Christmas trees, stockings, sweaters, snowflakes, and dark brown gingerbread cookies were decorated with care and delight. For several mentees, this was their first time decorating cookies, which was very special for Kristin, who cherishes memories of this tradition.
Another favorite activity was the craft station, where mentees created DIY ornaments and sculpted mini snowmen from air-dry putty. The space also had a small theater complete with comfy lounge chairs in stadium-style seating. A big screen played modern animated holiday short films curated by Volunteer Videographer Victoria.
Holiday cards for some of the people who invest in our mission were available for mentees and mentors to sign, offering an opportunity to share their gratitude. Two of the youth happily insisted on signing every card — more than 30 — to personally thank those who help make our community possible.
Seeing the youth mingle with one another, their mentors, and other volunteers is so heartwarming. It is also very meaningful to the youth. As one shared, “It’s my time to escape from my real world and come together with everybody and have a great time.”
Everyone left with a box of cookies (some with fewer than others as the sweet creations were hard to resist), any crafts they created, and feel-good holiday vibes. The youth also received a stocking with candy, useful items and fun gadgets, thanks to some generous friends. One mentee won a Chromebook through CalKIDS, which was perfect for her college journey.
After the event, our entire community of Mentoring Matches received an email with the cookie and icing recipes and a link to the animated shorts. This way, those who participated could relive the fun, and those who were unable to attend would still enjoy some of the festivities.
It was a day filled with cheer, new traditions, and gifts that brought care and joy during a season that can be very difficult for young people who have experienced foster care. We are deeply grateful to have held this space and thank all 7 volunteers — including a Mentoring Match and one young adult mentee — who made it happen.
May the spirit of sweet togetherness continue to fill hearts this season and throughout the year ahead!
