Retiree News

Chris Oxford stands at her kitchen island, spreading a thin layer of honey over golden, flaky pastry. Around her, a dozen students watch, taking notes on the baklava technique. The retired family and consumer sciences teacher walks them through each step, sharing tips on working with phyllo dough and the importance of patience when making a delicate dessert.

At the end of the lesson, students leave with generous samples to take home. Along with learning new recipes, they contribute to a good cause, with the fees for each class supporting charity.

Oxford, who taught in Frederick County for 20 years, wasn’t looking to return to a formal classroom after retirement. Still, she missed sharing her knowledge. When she was invited to teach a cooking class at her community’s clubhouse, she hesitated. “I didn’t want to haul all my gear up there,” she says. Instead, she set up shop in her own kitchen, where she could create a comfortable, firsthand learning experience.

Baking for a Cause

Each class typically draws 10 to 14 students who donate $25 to a featured charity and pay $5 for food costs. In 2024, the effort raised $3,885, including $3,050 to clear student lunch debt at a local elementary school.

“We more than wiped out their debt,” Oxford says. The cause resonated with her. “A lot of people don’t realize that you have to pay for school lunches. There’s free and reduced lunch, but there’s always that family that makes just a few dollars too much to qualify.”

Food insecurity is something she has seen firsthand. “I’ve had kids say, ‘Can I take this home so my brother and sister can taste it?’ And you know they’re bringing it home because that might be the only real meal they get outside of school.”

The effort quickly gained traction, and people in her community began donating even if they didn’t attend the classes. “I went out one day and came home, and there was a check for $250,” Oxford says. “I went out again, came home, and had another one for $250 and one for $300.”

Beyond the school lunch program, she has raised funds for a breast cancer charity, the local SPCA and Boulder Crest Foundation, which supports military personnel and first responders recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

A Recipe for Connection

Oxford’s home classes focus on approachable baking, from quick desserts and coffee cakes to classic holiday treats. She has taught sessions on microwave caramel and peanut brittle, bûche de Noël and Danish-style pastries. “Some people come eager to try the recipes at home,” she says. “Others have no desire to make it themselves – they just like coming because it’s fun, and they get to meet new people.”

Teaching adults has been a welcome shift in focus. She also has met many people who fondly recall their own family and consumer sciences classes. “Almost everybody, when they find out I was a teacher, says, ‘Oh, that was my favorite class,’ or ‘I still use this recipe I learned in school.’”

Oxford encourages other retirees to stay engaged whether through teaching, volunteering or simply getting involved in their community. “There’s always something you can do to get out and meet people,” she says. She suggests looking into local civic groups, community centers or libraries as places to share knowledge. “Somebody always wants to learn something, and if you have a skill, you can pass that on.”