While grants, elections, and fundraisers often make their mark on a community, Lorraine Tvrdik of Madison is making a difference simply by turning on her oven.

“Every year, I have always made cookies, and I have always given a lot away,” Lorraine says.

The recipients of her culinary creations? The police department.

“I think that it is mostly because my son is a detective in South San Francisco, and I can’t really do anything for him. So in a way, I kind of feel the officers here are my kids,” says Lorraine. “I really enjoy doing it, and I’m not even sure if they like my stuff, but I enjoy doing it. I think they hopefully enjoy eating it.”

While she doesn’t like to bake brownies or muffins, her repertoire is wide-ranging.

“I like to try new things. I really want to make them some breads. I made them a French apple cake. That is really tasty. I made them a Swiss cheese pie, I think they probably liked that. I made some rolls for Thanksgiving. I am making some puff pastry too,” says Lorraine. “I thought for Thanksgiving that those poor guys were stuck there in the office so we made and brought down some sliced turkey, cranberry mold, and some rolls. But I really try to do something different each time.”

Lorraine and her husband Wayne had an interesting journey to get to Madison, and though they haven’t been here long, their love for Madison is strong.

“I was born and raised in Switzerland and my husband is from Chicago. I went to England as an au pair to learn English, and I went Germany as an au pair to learn German. Then I came to work here in the U.S. for a diplomat in D.C., in Bethesda,” says Lorraine. “Eventually, I met my husband, and my au pair era was kind of over, and I got myself a job at the Swiss Embassy, which is kind of tough to do because you need to speak three languages. But I got the job, it was a lot of fun. Wayne and I got married a year later and we lived all over—in New York, Cincinnati, Ohio, [and] Philadelphia. Then we decided we wanted to go back to Switzerland for a year.”

Lorraine and Wayne lived back in Europe for a little over a year and then returned to the U.S., where they found a home in Litchfield County.

“We were there for about 30 years, but that was enough and we just wanted a change,” Lorraine says. “It was a perfect time to sell during the pandemic and we ended up here in Madison. The funny thing is we didn’t really have a connection to Madison. We used to go to Hammonasset with our children—we have two kids—we came here all the time, but never really noticed it. We didn’t really know anything about the shoreline, not about any of these towns, but when we came here, it was pure chance, and we just loved it here.”

Lorraine says her respect and devotion to the police are directly tied to her love for her son and what she sees as a lack of understanding of what the daily efforts of many officers are like.

“There is so many bad vibes about police. But everyone should know that they all have families. [They] all have brothers and sisters and nephews and nieces and friends and neighbors who love them and support them. I think we need to emphasize that fact and that they do such a great job. Plus, I don’t know what else to do, so I make cookies,” Lorraine laughs.

“My way is a quiet way, I guess. I don’t really like being the center of attention. It’s just my way of, I suppose, of saying thank you for the job you are doing. So, hopefully, I’ll never have to call them, except maybe for coffee,” says Lorraine.

Lorraine doesn’t get to interact with the police that much, as she just drops off her cookies and goodies. But rest assured, the folks at Madison Police love Lorraine’s baking and her drop-off of sweets and breads.

“I enjoy doing it. I always try and do something different. They are super friendly there at the department and I hope they like it too,” Lorraine says. “Madison is a small town and I just want to be part of that and give a little something back,” Lorraine says.

Lorraine says she just wants to spread a little joy—and sugar.

“I really like to bake. And to try new things. It’s fun. But I do want to do some breads for them. I like to do those, so maybe I’ll try and do a bread for them soon,” says Lorraine. “It’s the only way I know how to support my police department, but if there’s something else they want to get me involved in, I’m game.”