The Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen
www.downtowneveningsoupkitchen.com
Eleventh Annual Soup Night Edition
A Note from the Executive Director
The Eleventh Annual Soup Night, the third honoring those who serve D.E.S.K., took place on Sunday, April 1 and was a great success! The Unitarian Society (700 Hartford Turnpike, Hamden) kindly offered their space, and numerous D.E.S.K. volunteers made the evening very special. The event was well attended by a wonderful cross section of D.E.S.K.’s volunteers, all of whom give generously of their time in support of D.E.S.K..
Those of us at D.E.S.K. would like to extend our warmest thanks to the following individuals for their helpful participation in this year’s Soup Night.
Thanks and Recognition
For the blessing…
Rev. Sandra Olsen, Center Church on the Green
For the accompaniments to the meal…
D.E.S.K. Board Members, who graciously donated everything but the Soup, including appetizers, desserts, wines, beverages, and salads
The Chabaso Bakery [http://www.chabaso.com/], which donated the dinners rolls
Savanna Walker and her student baking crew at Common Ground School, who prepared the yummy desserts
Karl Ronne of the Wine Thief, who kindly supported Soup Night 2007
For their tireless work at D.E.S.K.…
A special thanks to the D.E.S.K. staff:
Diana Richter, Ph.D., Executive Director
Jeanne May, Director of Operations and D.E.S.K. chef
Alex Yuknat, D.E.S.K. evening coordinator
Carmella Stankowitz, who arranged the pre- and post- event details
For the music and entertainment…
The Elm City Banjo Society
For helping to plan the event…
June Schaffer, of the Unitarian Society and ICM, who received the Appreciation Award
For serving the soup and beverages…
Members of the New Haven County Bar Association Public Service Committee
For help preparing, serving, and cleaning up…
Alpha Phi Omega (Quinnipiac University)
For the great soups…
Stillwater American Bistro [http://stillwateramericanbistro.com/]
Archie Moore’s Bar and Restaurant [http://www.archiemoores.com/]
Clark’s Dairy and Restaurant
Claire’s Cornercopia [http://www.clairescornercopia.com/]
Central Steak House [http://www.centralsteakhouse.com/]
Jeanne May, D.E.S.K. chef
Awards
The following awards were given out by D. Richter and J. May:
Volunteer Awards
June Schaffer received the Appreciation Award for her help in planning the 2007 Soup Night.
Brad Saxton, Rick Roberts, Sue Simone, Jess Simone, Carrie Witt, Judy Hoberman, Charlie Reed, and Lori Alexander, members of the New Haven County Bar Association Public Service Committee, were recognized for their ongoing efforts. They have conducted several fundraising events and volunteer regularly at meals. This group does it all! Following is a list of ways in which these people have helped D.E.S.K. throughout the past year:
Flip Flop Friday, in which they raised money for pots and pans for D.E.S.K.
Horn of Plenty, which was a food and clothing drive
Evening meals on the fourth Monday and Thursday of every month
2006 and 2007 Soup Nights
Judy Hoberman received the 2007 D.E.S.K. Volunteer Award for her work coordinating the New Haven County Bar Association and other D.E.S.K. volunteer opportunities.
Youth with a Mission was acknowledged because for over two years, missionaries from this group have incorporated community service at D.E.S.K. into their training program. They help at D.E.S.K. on a weekly basis in a variety of capacities, such as unloading food from the van, stocking shelves, fixing pantry bags, and running the weekly pantry. Nothing is too big or too small for this group to handle!
Center Church was deserving of recognition because it has been the home base for D.E.S.K. for over 15 years at 311 Temple Street, which is the Center Church Parish House. The church’s staff have also been very supportive of and dedicated to D.E.S.K., and Volunteer Awards were presented to Penni and Ken West, Luis Pagan, Rev. Sandra L. Olsen, Blanche Baldwin, Linda Consigilio, and Arline Wobster. These folks work with D.E.S.K. staff on a daily basis to help the organization accomplish its mission of feeding the hungry.
Lynn Valentine received an award for her dedicated support of D.E.S.K. and her passionate teaching and leadership. Lynn Valentine has brought Foote students to help at D.E.S.K.’s Wednesday evening meals for 12 years. She is truly an “old school” teacher who continues to mentor students beyond the classroom!
Students of the Foote School [http://www.foote.pvt.k12.ct.us/] (among them, the “Dumpster Boys”) were called forward at the event. Ryan Healey, Brendan Healey, Andrew Stone, Michael Hoeksema, Alex Leffell, Julia McCarthy, Austen Kim, Evan Horwitz, and Maddie Buhl, all past and present students of the Foote School, were given Volunteer Awards for their service to D.E.S.K. These and other Foote School students have a longstanding tradition of helping D.E.S.K. by serving regular Wednesday evening meals. The students are dedicated and caring, and we hope and believe that they have been able to learn things about the community through their service that classrooms or books cannot teach. This year, they organized the “Stuff a Sock” campaign to gather socks, gloves, and personal hygiene products for D.E.S.K. guests during the holiday season. Many individual Foote students have also initiated their own projects to benefit D.E.S.K. and have volunteered to serve meals at D.E.S.K.
Bettina Pierre, Emily Greene, Janelle Laudine, Rick Carroll, Margaret Mann, and Gerard Davenport have helped serve D.E.S.K.’s Wednesday Evening meal at United Church for a very long time! Thank you for being so devoted to D.E.S.K.!
Carmella Stankowitcz is affectionately called “Sargent Stankowitz” by many who know her well. She is a longstanding supporter of and participant in D.E.S.K.’s services. We at D.E.S.K. commend her for her daily contributions, her unceasing dedication, and the personal growth she has shown during her time with D.E.S.K. A dependable daily volunteer, Carmella never quits and can always depended on. “We love you!”
Yale Hunger Heroes Awards
Julia Galeota received a volunteer award for coordinating D.E.S.K. Friday meals from pickup to clean-up and everything in between. For two years, Julia has made the Friday evening meals possible by her leadership and organization of Yale undergraduates!
Eliza Schafler is a former coordinator of the Sunday evening meals, and she is the current president of Yale Hunger Heroes and a co-president of the Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project [http://www.yale.edu/yhhap/].
Hans Anderson has been the webmaster of D.E.S.K.’s two websites and editor of the e-newsletter for D.E.S.K. for the past two years. Without his service, would not exist D.E.S.K. in cyberland! We really appreciate all Hans does for D.E.S.K.!
Board Member Award
Liz Cox is an outstanding D.E.S.K. board member who never says no. For many years, she has consistently supported all of D.E.S.K.’s services and events. She is a true advocate for guests and dedicated community member. A teacher at Common Ground School, Liz also continues to involve her students in many of D.E.S.K.’s volunteer opportunities.
Special Appreciation Award
Fred Johnson is not only an architect extraordinaire but also D.E.S.K.’s “renovation angel.” Fred has assisted D.E.S.K. in every aspect of the renovation of the central kitchen at 311 Temple Street, withholding no demonstration of guidance, support, and dedication. Fred is graciously continuing to help D.E.S.K. complete the project, and D.E.S.K. would like to say “Thank you!” to Fred for his knowledge, strength, time, work, and support!
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).
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.
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