The Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen

Summer Letter Appeal

In June, DESK distributed its summer letter appeal. As the summer approaches, the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK) is preparing again for increases in all its direct food services. DESK is seeing rising costs of business, increasing numbers of guests using all of DESK’s programs, and decreasing financial resources. As this summer letter appeal arrives, please consider a donation of any amount you can afford—this summer might be a record-breaker for need!

DESK employs a staff of three full-time employees and relies on over 400 volunteers per month to fulfill the organization’s mission. In 2009, DESK served over 101,900 free evening meals daily, 56,392 free pantry bags weekly, and 11,980 bag lunches for the working poor. The upward trend in demand for all of DESK’s programs continues in 2010; this summer, DESK will serve 300 people every day.

The DESK Director of Operations strives to serve fresh home-cooked food, with fare including fresh produce and meat, side dishes, green salads, desserts, and a beverage. To stretch resources, DESK recycles all waste and has implemented a tray and dishwashing system. Your donation into this efficient system of just $100 can supply food for 250 evening meals, 100 pantry bags, or 100 bag lunches; however, support in any amount helps.

Please consider, then, a donation to ensure DESK’s survival this summer. DESK is extremely grateful for reliable support from the greater New Haven community—without your provision, DESK would not exist.

Dina M. Richter, Ph.D.
DESK Executive Director

Changing of the Guard

Jeanne Marie May, DESK Chef and Director of Operations of seven years of distinguished service, relocated from New Haven in late June, resigning from her post at DESK. Jeanne promises to return and visit DESK throughout the year, and she wants everyone to know how much she enjoyed serving at DESK. Jeanne would like to thank you all for the support she received during her time at DESK; for our part, we would all like to wish Jeanne the best at her new home in Indiana. We all miss her!

DESK has had the privilege this summer of hiring Linda Carbone to follow Jeanne as Chef and Director of Operations. Linda has worked for Yale Dinning Services for 21 years with over 20 years of experience specifically in food service and delivery. In 2009, Linda received the DESK Valentine Humanitarian award. Her professional experience of two decades and DESK connection of two years make her the perfect candidate to maintain and advance DESK’s operations.

To promote continuity at DESK, Linda trained with Jeanne before Jeanne left; now, Linda has formally assumed all of Jeanne’s former tasks and responsibilities. Linda looks forward to her new challenges and to meeting DESK’s many volunteers in the years to come.

All of us at DESK would like to take this opportunity to welcome Linda!