E-Newsletter September 2007
The Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen
www.downtowneveningsoupkitchen.com
Important Notice
Change of Venue
From Monday, September 24 onward, D.E.S.K.’s evening meals on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will be held at 311 Temple Street. What does this mean? It means that if you volunteered or received evening meals at Trinity Church on Monday, First and Summerfield Church on Tuesday, or United Church on Wednesday, you must now go to D.E.S.K.’s central kitchen (311 Temple St) instead! The only meals not held at this location will be the Yale Hunger Heroes’ Friday evening meals at United Church, which will start by the first week of October, and the Sunday evening kosher meals at the Slifka Center during the academic year. However, when Yale is in academic recess, Sunday meals will be at 311 Temple St. Please see the Slifka Center schedule on the D.E.S.K. website for more information.
This change makes food transportation more efficient, facilitates the supervision of operations, and ensures the daily availability of a complete commercial kitchen and dining hall. The new arrangement will therefore help D.E.S.K. tremendously in continuing to provide a reliable and nutritional source of food to its many guests. We hope that United Church, Trinity Church, and First and Summerfield Church, who have graciously provided venues to D.E.S.K. for nearly 20 years, will continue to support us in the time to come!
Jeanne will send an email to all volunteers regarding this change.
Thanks and Recognition
Ride to End Hunger
The Ride To End Hunger was very successful, thanks to the wonderful weather and many happy riders! See pictures from event on the Ride to End Hunger website (www.ridetoendhunger.com/pictures.html). D.E.S.K. would like to thank a number of individuals and organizations who have made donations this year to the Ride to End Hunger, including:
People’s United Bank, the corporate sponsor of the Ride To End Hunger, for their generous financial support, and especially thanks to the Century Tower One People’s United Bank staff
Joe and Laurie Dunleavy of Stillwater American Bistro (New Haven) for donating a BBQ lunch buffet and graciously opening their entire restaurant to ride participants—Chef Joe’s food rocked, and the view of the river was great!
Jason Hackley and the CT Shoreline Riders for all their help in putting the ride together
Red Knights of CT (Chapter 4) for their efforts at publicizing the ride and fundraiser
South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority for donating 200 bottles of water for the event, and a special thanks to Joann
Taylor Rental (Boston Post Rd, Orange) for helping with the tent and the generator, and a special thanks to Bret
Dunkin’ Donuts (889 State St) for providing coffee and donuts for the riders during registration, and a special thanks to Billy
DJ Marty from Marty Thyme, the event DJ, for donating his entire day to D.E.S.K.
Rosa Nieves, D.E.S.K. board member, and all the Quinnipiac University students for their help setting up
Liz Cox, D.E.S.K. board member, and her students from Common Grounds School (New Haven) for helping with the coffee and donuts during registration
Sports Haven and Paul Derose for all his help
Jet Cleaners for helping advertise the event during the entire month of August (they are celebrating their fiftieth anniversary this year!)
Joe from Trantolo and Trantolo for promoting the event on his radio show
Connecticut State Police for escorting the ride
New Haven Fire Department, Engine Co. #1, for their support (Squad #1 is D.E.S.K.’s only #1 neighborhood fire station!)
Back to School Tag Sale
D.E.S.K. held its second annual Back to School Tag Sale on Friday and Saturday, August 31 and September 1. D.E.S.K. extends special thanks to the following groups and organizations who sponsored the event: Yale Recycling, Yale College Council, Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project, and Yale Hunger Heroes. All proceeds went directly to benefit D.E.S.K. President of YHH and D.E.S.K. Board Member Eliza Schafler, together with YHHAP President Jane Levy, coordinated the entire event, and thanks to their efforts, proceeds tripled this year!
An Evening of Cabaret at Chow
This event was another huge success. Dr. Marie Robert performed her collection of “Songs from the Heart,” raising over $1,200 to benefit D.E.S.K. We hope to have Marie sing at a future D.E.S.K. event, so watch for her!
Youth with a Mission
D.E.S.K. would like to say a special thanks to them members of Youth with a Mission (YWAM) who helped all summer to stock, organize, and conduct the D.E.S.K. Wednesday pantry. They filled pantry bags, documented guests, and ran the pantry all summer despite the heat and an increased numbers of guests. You guys rock!
Upcoming Events
Cook and Care Walk-A-Thon
The Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen, the Community Soup Kitchen, FISH, and Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers are all set to benefit from the eleventh iteration of this annual fund-raising walk, which will take place on Sunday, October 14. Registration for the 3-mile trek will begin at 1:00 p.m. in Edgerton Park (Whitney Ave, New Haven). The actual walking will start at 2:00 p.m. and will be led by a bagpiper. Entertainment and delicious refreshments promise to make it a fun event for everyone, including children and dogs! In addition, walkers will receive special “Cook and Care” T-shirts. This year, Channel 8’s Sara Welch and Gil Simmons will be our honorary chairpersons.
The Walk-A-Thon is a major fund raiser for all four organizations. Please mark your calendars and plan to participate with your family, in a group, or as an individual. All donations, even from non-walkers, are always appreciated and will be collected at the event. Make checks payable to Interfaith Cooperative Ministries, Inc. at the address below, and insert a “Cook and Care Walk-A-Thon” memo. Donations are tax deductible.
c/o IVCG
30 Gilles Rd
Hamden, CT 06517
Walk papers can be obtained from the New Haven Chamber of Commerce at 900 Chapel St on floor ten.
Thanksgiving 2007
Zombie Fest
This fall, get ready for an event that New Haven has never seen before! Debuting in October, the New Haven Zombie Fest, which is sponsored in part by The Advocate and Magic Hat and, will collect nonperishable food items for D.E.S.K. More details will soon be announced.
Current Needs
Notes from the Chef
Help! We are dangerously low on provisions for the pantry, including:
Canned vegetables
Canned fruit
Canned soup
Peanut butter
Jelly
Cereal
We are also in desperate need of supplies for the kitchen, including:
Adobo
Italian seasoning
Garlic salt
Onion powder
Bay leaves
Salt
Pepper
Vinegar
Alleviate the Food Shortage with a Food Drive
As you can see from the above, D.E.S.K. is experiencing a drastic food shortage for canned and nonperishable food items. How can you help? Host a food drive! Food drives play an important role in D.E.S.K.'s mission to alleviate hunger in Connecticut. Schools, businesses, youth groups, service organizations, theater and arts groups, congregations, neighborhoods, families, and groups of friends have all conducted successful food drives in the past, and so can you!
Here’s how it works: you start a food drive for D.E.S.K. at your place of work, in your school, or at your church or synagogue. Afterward, D.E.S.K. will pick up the food items. It’s that simple. Of course, if you’re able, you’re also welcome to deliver the items yourself to D.E.S.K.’s central pantry (311 Temple St), Sunday through Thursday, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The “most-needed” list includes:
Tuna and other canned meat
Peanut butter
Diapers, detergent, deodorant
Chunky soups and meat stews
Shaving cream, razors, hairbrushes
Macaroni and cheese
Spaghetti and sauce
Rice
Dry or canned beans (nonperishable only)
Canned vegetables and fruits
Powdered milk
Canned, bottled, or boxed 100% fruit juice
“Sugar-free,” “low sodium,” and “no salt” items
Please, no fresh produce.
Information
Food Donations
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). Please remember that all of D.E.S.K.’s offices and operations are closed on Fridays and Saturdays. We cannot accept deliveries on those days without previous arrangements!
Volunteer Opportunities
Contact Jeanne (JeanneMarieMay@aol.com), and she’ll find something for you to do anytime from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. Remember: D.E.S.K. accepts all community service volunteers, and youth groups are also welcome!
Removal from E-Newsletter List
To be removed from the E-Newsletter mailing list, please email webmaster@downtowneveningsoupkitchen.com.
Emergency Food Council
The Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen is a member of the Emergency Food Council of Connecticut. Visit our website at www.emergencyfoodcouncil.com.
Contact D.E.S.K.
Diana M. Richter
Executive Director
P.O. Box 1478
New Haven, CT 06506
Phone: 203-624-6426
Fax: 203-624-2116