Natalie's Everyday Heroes: 8-year-old baker Frankie Parkhurst

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Frankie's Sweet Shoppe started out as make believe, but it's grown into something unbelievable instead. Frankie Parkhurst is only eight years old, and her baking has raised more than $1,000 for homeless animals.  

It's also earned her an award from Waukesha's Humane Animal Welfare Society, or HAWS.

Ben the kitten has got a pretty sweet life.

His own clubhouse to play in, and an 8-year-old girl who loves him.

"I saw him, and I thought he was really cute," Parkhurst said. "He's tan, and he's tiny and a kitten, which means he'll stay with me for a while."

Parkhurst recently adopted Ben. You could say he's her sweet reward.

"Cook sugar and corn syrup on the stove for a little bit," Parkhurst said, reading directions for homemade marshmallows. 

When she was just six, Parkhurst started Frankie's Sweet Shoppe.

"I make brownies, marshmallows, cupcakes, cakes, cookies," she said proudly.

All alongside her mom, Lynn.

"Definitely her most well-known is her homemade marshmallows," Lynn Parkhurst said.

"Sprinkles, crumbled graham crackers and chocolate chips," Frankie said, pointing out the toppings she puts on the marshmallows. "It kind of tastes like a smore."

Frankie started helping in the kitchen at just three years old, filling pie crusts and frosting cakes.

A passion that grew from there.

"She was six, maybe close to seven, and her creativity peaked. She was pretending. So, when she was helping me, she would say, 'oh, we're Frankie's Sweet Shoppe,'" her mom said.

Say it enough, and it becomes true.

"There was one Valentine's Day where she made a whole bunch of treats and neighbors came over, and so that's how it started," Lynn said.

It's only grown from there. Frankie bakes for all kinds of occasions, from birthdays to baby showers.

"I just like that you can test out the sweets and all of that," she said.

Now, she's got a logo she designed, and she takes donations for her creations.

"Right now, she just does orders for friends or family, or people that we know. And that's by design, so she's not in over her head," Lynn said.

Frankie takes all of those donations to Waukesha's Humane Animal Welfare Society, or HAWS.

She's raised nearly $1,500. Her dedication earned her the Emma's Inspiration Award at the HAWS gala this month. The award is named for another 8-year-old, Emma Mertens, whose love of dogs went viral before she passed away from brain cancer in 2019.

"She's got a fire. She loves to do it. She's kind. She's compassionate. So, for her to be able to do this is raw, it's real," Lynn said of Frankie.

Which leads us back to Ben.

When she donates, Frankie hangs out with cats at HAWS.

"Because I like animals a lot and I like helping them out," she said.

Lynn says it was love at first sight.

"So, I think it was a win-win for everybody," she said. 

Passion -- the key ingredient in Frankie's recipe for success.

"I think it was pure joy for her to be able to give and not to get anything back," Lynn said.

And what does she want to do when she grows up?

"I think I might start Frankie's Sweet Shoppe into its own business," she said.

For more information on HAWS, click here.

If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].