Hunger Heroes
About Yale Hunger Heroes
Yale Hunger Heroes is cooperative effort between the Yale undergraduate community and the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen. Please contact Co-Coordinator bryan.kam@yale.edu for more information.
Objectives of Yale Hunger Heroes:
- To inform Yale undergraduates about homelessness and hunger in New Haven and about DESK’s efforts
- To manage and staff the Sunday night meal held at the Slifka Center, the Sunday afternoon pantry held at Center Church Parish House, and the Friday night meal held at United Church Parish House
- To help support the financial needs of DESK
- To be represented on the DESK Board of Directors
- To participate in the activities of Yale Hunger Heroes' parent organization, the Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project (YHHAP)
- To arrange for a new website dedicated specifically to Yale Hunger Heroes at http://www.yale.edu/hungerheroes
- To sponsor, in conjunction with YHHAP, a Tag Sale fundraiser and the Twentieth Anniversary Celebration fundraiser
To volunteer on Sundays, please contact hans.anderson@yale.edu; to volunteer on Fridays, please contact bryan.kam@yale.edu.
Bingham Award
The Bingham Award is presented annually to Yale students for outstanding contributions to and support of DESK. The award is named after DESK benefactors Timothy W. Bingham and Susan Hulsman Bingham.
This year’s recipients are:
- Hans Anderson (SY 2010): webmaster, e-newsletter editor, Sunday volunteer coordinator, and board of directors member
- Efan Wu (SM 2010): Friday meal coordinator, hunger heroes co-chair, YHHAP officer, board of directors member
- Bryan Kam (SY 2012): Friday meal coordinator, hunger heroes co-chair, board of directors member
- Ming-Toy Taylor (TD 2013): Friday meal coordinator, hunger heroes coordinator, board of directors member
- Alon Harish (BD 2013): Friday meal volunteer
- Glen Meyerowitz (ES 2013): Friday meal volunteer
- Ross Macdonald (GRD 2012): provider of transportation for Yale food rescue, Friday meal volunteer
Trick-Or-Eat 2009
Between 40 and 50 Yale undergraduate, graduate, and staff volunteers showed up for Trick-Or-Eat 2009, including groups from the YPU Independent Party, the Humanist Society, and the Muslim Students’ Association. In two hours, we collected over 1,000 food items, thanks to the many houses who, having seen our fliers, had cans of food ready! A sponsored bus from New Haven Bus Service transported volunteers while two Dwight Hall cars handled the loads of food· We would like to thank the Slifka Center for the use of their space.
About Yale Hunger & Homelesseness Action Project (YHHAP)
YHHAP is the umbrella organization at Yale for all initiatives working to fight hunger and homelessness. Founded in 1974 as YHAP, Yale Hunger Action Project, YHHAP has evolved as the needs of New Haven and the country have changed. Currently, YHHAP focuses primarily on New Haven hunger and homelessness, sponsoring various projects in the community, including:
- Harmony Place, a community center for members of the homeless community where they can socialize, play games, make phone calls, and do laundry
- BRED (Bringing Relief Every Day), a program in which Yale students collect left-over baked goods from dining halls each day, bringing them to two local organizations for the benefit of people currently transitioning back into society after spending time in prison
- G.E.D. tutoring at local prisons
- YHHAP Fast and Awareness Week, which raises approximately $8,000 each semester and runs various projects to inform the Yale community about the realities of hunger and homelessness
Now, working with DESK, YHHAP will also run Yale Hunger Heroes, which will bring students together with members of DESK to operate the soup kitchen on Fridays and Sundays. The Yale Hunger Heroes will also help with other general projects at DESK
If you have questions, or if you would like to learn more about Hunger Heroes, please contact bryan.kam@yale.edu.