📸: Pictured is Karen Wilkes of St Christopher’s Church Jump Start Kitchen program. Not pictured: Barbara Buer, Bobbi Johnson, and Patti Jacobsen
St Christopher’s Church is the home of Jump Start Kitchen. What is it? It’s a special program that is the brainchild of church members. They hold cooking presentations one day a month to teach people how to use a slow cooker, or crockpot. This method of cooking is very economical and a great way to have a hot meal without much fuss. Slow cooking is especially ideal for seniors, single people and families on the go. In the class, they welcome anyone who would like to learn more about the process. Don’t own a crockpot? We have some great news for you! They will provide attendees with a brand new appliance!
Jump Start Kitchen has been teaching community members to take advantage of crockpot cooking for eight years. Several women in the church thought it would be a great way to help others. Each presentation is about an hour long and they are held on the first Tuesday of the month from September thru May (they take a break during the summer). Class takes place in the hall at the church, located at 812 Arizona Street, across the parking lot from the Parks and Recreation Building. They have room for approximately 20 people per session.
Here is how the Jump Start instructors describe their class:
The monthly class kicks off on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at the St. Christopher’s parish hall at 812 Arizona in Boulder City with two sessions, 10:00AM and 6:30PM, with subsequent classes the first Tuesday of each month, October through May. Each session will focus on easy-to-follow, nutritious meals that require minimal preparation and make the most of affordable ingredients. Organizers have expanded their recipe repertoire to include sheet-pan and salad dishes, providing variety along with economical cooking ideas. Participants will not only learn to prepare a recipe during the class, but also receive practical tips on meal planning, food storage, and stretching a grocery budget.
In a generous show of community support, the church will provide a free brand-new crockpot to any class member who does not currently own one, ensuring that everyone can apply what they learn at home.
“This class is about more than just food,” says Barbara Buer, one of the church members leading the initiative. “It’s about giving people the tools and confidence to cook healthy meals without breaking the bank. We want to make good food accessible for everyone—starting with a crockpot and a little know-how.”Jump Start Kitchen is part of the church’s broader mission to serve and uplift the local community by addressing practical needs and creating spaces for connection and learning.
Slow cooking is an excellent way to use cheaper cuts of meat as the “low and slow” cooking method tenderizes the meat. Slow cookers are also very versatile: cooks can make a variety of recipes and customize them to their tastes. There are recipes ranging from breakfast meals that can cook overnight, to beef roasts or vegetable soup as main dishes, to desserts like molten lava chocolate cake. The “hands off” approach to cooking is a nice benefit as well. Adding all the ingredients to the cooker in the morning and allowing it to cook all day, allows users to return home to a bubbling, nutritious meal at the end of the day. One of the most important features in our climate is that using a crockpot doesn’t heat up the kitchen, the way the stove and oven do! The appliances also consume less electricity than stoves and ovens.
The current instructors for Jump Start Kitchen are members of the St Christopher’s congregation. Each of these women are experienced cooks and enthusiastic instructors. They’ve taught a wide variety of eager learners: single parents, seniors on a fixed income, and even a local Girl Scout troop! They are excited to introduce folks to the ease of slow cooking. To RSVP for the next class on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, please email Bobbi HERE. You can choose either a morning class at 10:00AM or the evening one at 6:30PM. If you would like to help support this fantastic community outreach program, you can contact St Christopher’s Church at (702) 293-4275.
Take advantage of this opportunity to learn some new tricks in your kitchen to produce amazing meals the entire family will love!
