The Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen celebrated over 20 years of service to New Haven at the Yale Peabody Museum in June. The event celebrated the many invaluable contributors and volunteers who enable D.E.S.K. to fulfill its mission. The keynote address was given by the Honorable Mayor of the City of New Haven, John DeStafano, Jr.

D.E.S.K. honored Julie Savin (Livable City Initiative of New Haven) for her guidance and support during the central kitchen renovation project. Julie’s help was indispensable in securing city and state funding for the renovation. Her tenacity in dealing with the building contractors earned her the name “Kick Ass Julie.” Without her input, the renovation would still be in progress.

 

New Haven City Alderman Ed Mattison was also honored for his continued support of and devotion to D.E.S.K.’s cause. Ed has been a strong advocate for both D.E.S.K. and the Community Soup Kitchen at the city level for years. His effort over the past two years has helped D.E.S.K. tremendously.

 

D.E.S.K. also wants to thank YHHAP (Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project) and the Yale Hunger Heroes for their generous support and sponsorship of D.E.S.K.’s Twentieth Anniversary Celebration at the Peabody Museum. Deserving of special recognition for their help are Jane Levy, president of YHHAP and D.E.S.K. board member, and Nicole Aaronson, president of Yale Hunger Heroes.

 

D.E.S.K. Board Member Debra Hauser donated her time and energy to secure wine and food donations from Amity Wine and Emily’s Catering. She really knows how to throw a party! Thank you Debra for all your support and for your short one year term on the D.E.S.K. Board. We all will miss you!

 

Alice Bruno, Charlie Reed, Lara Spencer, and Spencer Church (The New Haven County Bar Association) are also deserving of thanks for bar-tending at the evening.

 

Thank you also to friends of D.E.S.K. Miriam V. Haeusler and M.J. Bradley, who took charge of set-up and clean-up. These two helped put the personal touch in our gala space!

 

D.E.S.K. also extends thanks to Heidi and Courtney, who welcomed guests throughout the event.

 

Jan Simpson, D.E.S.K. board member, was responsible for the wonderful flower arrangements. Thanks, Jan!

 

The Regional Water Authority graciously donated bottled water for the event.

 

Thanks, Joann!

 

Finally, thank you to all the D.E.S.K. board members and staff, Jeanne May, and Alex Yuknat, who helped plan and prepare for the event!

 

Beans, beans, and more beans! The congregation of the United Church on the Green recently held a creative “Bean Drive” to benefit D.E.S.K. As a result, D.E.S.K. has now received hundreds of pounds of beans—and every type of bean, at that! Jeanne, D.E.S.K.’s Director of Operations, is putting all those nutritious beans to good use in a variety of stews and soups this summer.

 

Besides the bean drive, the United Church on the Green has long provided the venue for D.E.S.K.’s Wednesday evening meals. Moreover, the church graciously hosted D.E.S.K.’s kitchen operations for the many months of D.E.S.K.’s kitchen renovations. John MacIver Gage is the pastor at United Church on the Green. For more information, visit them on the web at http://www.newlights.org.

 

Immediate: F/T Operations Assistant and P/T Evening Coordinator for small non-profit

Minimum Requirements: mature and at least 21 years of age with a valid CT driver’s license; pass security and drug screening; able to lift 50 pounds repeatedly; self-motivated

Preferred: prior experience with food service and high risk population

Work hours: 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday to Thursday

D.E.S.K. is a “drug-free, drama-free” zone.

Send letter and job history/resume to:

 

D.E.S.K. and the Yale Hunger Heroes will host the annual Tag Sale August 31 and September 1 (Friday and Saturday) from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the 311 Temple Street D.E.S.K. dinning hall (New Haven). The Tag Sale is sponsored by Yale Recycling, YHHAP, Yale Hunger Heroes, and D.E.S.K., and all proceeds directly benefit D.E.S.K. This is the perfect going back to school sale—futons, lamps, furniture, shelving, and more will all be available!

 

The second annual Ride to End Hunger, a charity motorcycle ride to benefit D.E.S.K., will take place on Sunday, September 16, 2007. Registration will run from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Sports Haven (New Haven). The 62-mile ride through rural Connecticut will end at Stillwater American Bistro (New Haven) [http://stillwateramericanbistro.com/] with a raffle and BBQ lunch, which are included in the registration fee, and a cash bar. For more information, please visit www.ridetoendhunger.com.

 

The Summer months are hard for D.E.S.K.—there are more guests at evening meals and the Wednesday food pantry, but volunteer interest is not as high as during the fall and winter holiday seasons.

 

	May of 2007	April 2007	June 2007
Evening Meals	8,596	7,054	8,194
Pantry Bags	2,841	1,222	2,861
Bag Lunches	630	690	630
Individuals Served	3,718	3,597	3,623
Volunteers	308	368	310

 

 

If you or your group would like to conduct a food drive for D.E.S.K., please let us know! We will come and pick up any non-perishable food items that you collect.

 

Drop off donations at 311 Temple Street between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, or call the kitchen (203-772-3400).

 

 

To be removed from the E-Newsletter mailing list, please email webmaster@downtowneveningsoupkitchen.com.

 

Diana M. Richter

Executive Director

P.O. Box 1478

New Haven, CT 06506

Phone: 203-624-6426

Fax: 203-624-22116