E-Newsletter August 2006
 
The Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen
http://www.downtowneveningsoupkitchen.com/
 
Quick Notes
D.E.S.K. Wins the 2006 Champion in Action Award
D.E.S.K. received the 2006 Champion in Action Award from Citizens Bank [http://www.citizensbank.com/community/champions/default.aspx] for its community leadership in fighting hunger. The award is sponsored by Citizens Bank and WTNH, and each recipient receives:
 
  1. •A $25,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from the Citizens Bank Foundation
  2. •Coverage from News Channel 8, including public service announcements and television profiles
  3. •Volunteer support from Citizens Bank and News Channel 8
  4. •Public relations support
  5. •Promotional support, including advertising in Citizens Bank branches, on Citizens Bank ATMs, and on the websites of Citizens Bank and News Channel 8 website
 
Thank you to Citizens Bank and WTNH for recognizing D.E.S.K.’s 20 years of service to the New Haven community. Stay tuned to learn more about how this award will help D.E.S.K. fulfill its mission of feeding the hungry!
 
Upcoming Events
“Going-Back-To-School” Sale
D.E.S.K. is preparing for a huge going back to school TAG SALE! All proceeds from the sale will help D.E.S.K. feed the New Haven community.
 
  1. •When: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 1, and Saturday, September 2
  2. •Where: 311 Temple Street—Center Church parish house basement (the D.E.S.K. Dinning Hall)… Just off the Yale campus!
  3. •What: Lamps, fans, dressers, shelves, assorted electronics, desk accessories, and more—it’s everything you need!
 
The tag sale will be a great way to equip your dorm room while supporting the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen. All of the items were donated by Yale Recycling.
 
Citizens Bank employees will help D.E.S.K. run the Tag Sale for the United Way Day of Caring 2006. The tremendous amount of help they will be providing this year and in years to come will enable D.E.S.K. to make the Tag Sale an annual event.
 
The Citizens Bank employees are also planning to help paint a portion of the D.E.S.K. dinning hall and pantry in a separate “Day of Caring” project. More information regarding this colossal support effort will come later.
 
Enjoy The Ride & Help Fight Hunger
On Saturday, September 16, the “Ride to End Hunger”—a 62-mile motorcycle charity ride to raise money for D.E.S.K.—will take place in and around New Haven, starting and ending at Sports Haven. The event will proceed in any weather and will feature a raffle with great prizes, music by a DJ and band, and tasty food. You can register in advance or on the day of the event, so if you have a motorcycle, check out the Ride to End Hunger website [www.ridetoendhunger.com] for more information!
 
Needs and Opportunities
Calling All Volunteers!!
D.E.S.K. is in great need of help at all times from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.! If you can help in any way, D.E.S.K. needs you! Email Jeanne for more information.
 
Yale Undergraduates and Hunger Heroes
Are you a Yale student looking for an opportunity to help the hungry in New Haven? Check out Yale Hunger Heroes! Yale Hunger Heroes is an undergraduate initiative of Yale students intended to help D.E.S.K. fulfill its mission in the New Haven community. The students serve evening meals on Fridays and Sundays during the academic year; and on Wednesdays, Hunger Heroes help unload supplies, stock the D.E.S.K. pantry, and fundraise.
 
For more information, email nicole.aaronson@yale.edu, or come to the D.E.S.K. Tag Sale just off the Yale campus at 311 Temple St.
 
Ride to End Hunger
D.E.S.K. is in need of the following items for the Ride to End Hunger:
  1. •Three outdoor canopies for the Sports Haven parking lot
  2. •A mobile gas generator for the DJ and band
  3. •Two hundred sodas for participants’ lunches
If you can donate/lend any of these items, please email director@downtownevenigsoupkitchen.com. Thanks!
 
Food
Jeanne needs spices, dairy products, and juice drinks for D.E.S.K.’s central kitchen and for the bag lunch program. If you are able to lend assistance, please email her (JeanneMarieMay@aol.com).
 
Any food donations may be brought to D.E.S.K.’s central kitchen at 311 Temple St from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. If you need to have an item picked up, please call Jeanne (203-809-7770) to schedule a pick-up time.
 
Thanks & Recognition
Ride to End Hunger
Thank you to Joe and Laurie Dunleavy of Stillwater American Bistro [http://www.stillwateramericanbistro.com/] for donating more than 200 bottled waters for The Ride To End Hunger. Having also donated soup for the 2006 Soup Night, Joe and Laurie continue to be great supporters of D.E.S.K.
 
Thank you also to Subway for donating 200 sandwiches for the Ride to End Hunger!
 
Information
July Statistics
In July, D.E.S.K. served 3,569 evening meals, provided 440 bag lunches to the working poor, and filled 607 grocery bags at the weekly food pantry; and in total, about 2,115 individuals were served, 39 of whom were children. The extraordinary service in the month of July was made possible by 323 volunteers.
 
On a related note, at one evening meal in August, D.E.S.K. served 253 individuals, setting its all-time attendance record. D.E.S.K. is continuing to meet a record level of need for its evening meals and weekly pantry in the month of August.
 
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) or email Jeanne.
 
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!
 
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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
director@downtowneveningsoupkitchen.com
 
The Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen E-Newsletter, Designed and Edited by Hans Anderson