E-Newsletter Holiday 2008
The Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen
www.downtowneveningsoupkitchen.com
Thanks and Recognition
A Holiday Note from the Director of Operations
On behalf of the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen, I would like to wish everyone a happy new year! We feel grateful still to be serving and helping those in need in this terribly strained economy. We could not do the work we do without you.
A few years back we started talking around the kitchen about how “the face of hunger has changed.” At the time, we were beginning to see an increase in the number of hungry working poor, along with a rise in food insecurity among them. But today again, I can affirm, “The face of hunger has changed.” By that I mean that the improvement we had hoped to see in the ranks of the working poor never materialized, and many of them have now lost their employment.
In particular, the seniors we serve are struggling like never before to make ends meet, while the groups growing fastest are families and the white-collar population. We have seen record numbers of folks coming out to our pantry and to our evening meal to receive assistance. Many former volunteers have now become guests at our pantry and at our meals. In short, times are certainly tough, and the work we do would be impossible without the help of the groups, individuals, schools, temples, and churches who serve with us. We thank you all.
Thanksgiving—Belated Words of Thanks
This Thanksgiving was a smashing success! However, because we were so busy with folks coming, staying for any amount of time, and then going, it was hard to keep track of names and faces. Thankfully, though our need increased by a staggering amount from last year, with all the help we received we were able not only to deliver enough food but also hold a sit down meal again! Everything we served was fresh, homemade, and not preprocessed, a goal DESK that has for every one of our evening meals but that was nice to have been able to meet on such a grand scale. To all our carrot scrapers, potato peelers, turkey carvers, stuffing makers, pie bakers; to all our slicers, baggers, servers, and deliverers; to all our cookers, runners, and fundraisers, THANK YOU! Now for specifics.
To the Sound School, thank you for the last minute cash for butter, juice, and milk.
To the Young Lawyers, thank you for the successful Horn of Plenty event.
To the Connecticut Food Bank, an amazing group of folks who are always there providing so much, we could not offer the quality of food we do without your hard and diligent work. You are just the best!
To Jud, his guys, and his family, thank you for carrying on a tradition of ten or more years helping us into the wee hours of Thanksgiving Eve and showing up Thanksgiving Day in the dark bringing joy and coffee while you heat all the food that goes to those in need. I can never thank you enough—you are my second wind at the end of a marathon!
An extra special thanks to DESK staffer Daniel Evrard—who in February will have been with DESK for a year—for his team work, his special way with our guests, his hard work, and his great attitude, and all the great ideas he has brought to DESK on everything from environmental issues to guest services. He is loved and respected by our guests and by us, which really means so much!
Also, I want to thank Diana Richter not only for coming Thanksgiving Day and helping but also for your year-round support and for all you have done and are doing to make DESK thrive.
A big shout out to our Board of Directors and to President Cindy McCarroll, a great leader and supporter.
Thank you, DESK Board member Michelle Reynard for great photos of all our Thanksgiving preparations.
A couple of “blasts from the past”: Ken West and Alex Yuknat (both former DESK staffer) stopped by over the holidays to catch up. Ken is teaching in Florida, and Alex continues his studies in Maine. It is nice to see familiar faces and to hear how people are doing.
Finally, thank you to all the following:
Shalom United Church of Christ
Ladies’ Home Missionary Society
Connecticut Food Bank
New Haven Elks Lodge #25
BEKI Synagogue
Walter Boyle
Center Church on the Green, New Haven (especially Sandra Olsen, Blanche Baldwin, and Louis Pagana, Linda, and Arlene)
Karreem Mebane and the folks at the Yale Office of Development and Major Gifts
United Church and Parish House, New Haven
Chabaso Bakery, New Haven (Jill)
Jet Cleaners, New Haven (Mike)
Trinity Church, New Haven
First and Summerfield United Methodist Church, New Haven
Rimage Salon, New Haven
DESK Sunday Coordinator Liz Bershad
Efan and the Hunger Heroes
Sound School (Paul Morris)
Foote School
Silat Federation
Yale Peabody Museum (Patricia Brunnetto)
Power Flow Studio
Produce Whisperer (Emmett, Michelle, and “Davide” Henry)
Youth with a Mission
Temple B’Nai Jacob
North Haven Congregational Church
Common Ground High School
Yale science graduate students
Yale Commons Dining Hall
Temple Beth Shalom
Interfaith Cooperative Ministries
Church of the Redeemer, New Haven
Betsy Ross Magnet School, New Haven
Hamden Hall (upper and lower classes)
Temple Emmanuel, Orange
St. Mary’s Church, New Haven
Unitarian Society, Hamden
George Carter (for always being such a huge help)
New Haven Friendly Meeting
Congregation Mishken Israel
Community Foundation for Greater New Haven (Denise Canning and Tricia Caldwell)
Connecticut Young Lawyers and Connecticut County Bar Association (Carrie Witt and Todd Richardson) for the coat and clothing drive and for the Horn of Plenty food drive (Law Offices of Balzano & Tropiano, P.C.; Caplan, Hecht & Mendel, LLC; Carmody & Torrance, LLC; Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante, LLC;; Wiggin & Dana, LLP; Patter, Porto, Parese & Colwell, P.C.; Quinnipiac Law School; Saxe, Doernberger & Vita, P.C.; Loughlin Fitgerald, P.C.; Law Offices of Turret & Rosenbaum; and Nuzzo & Roverts, LLC)
Saint Martin De Porres Academy
Yale Hunger Heroes (Efan and Josh)
Yale Hunger and Homeless Project
Hopkins School
Joseph Slifka Center at Yale
Trinity Church on the Green
Temple Beth David
Congregation Or Shalom
Temple Beth Shalom
“Retro Foote Gang”
Henry Ford, longtime DESK daily volunteer
First Church of Christ, Woodbridge
Humanist Association of Connecticut
Yale nursing students and medical students
Phillip Morris
Carpenters Union
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
June Schaffer
Wendy Mcleod-Columbus House
ICVG (Miriam and Barbara)
ICM (Marilyn Bowens, Pastor MCC of New Haven)
R.J. Reynolds Co. for a great food drive!
Yale University Dinning Services for a great Holiday Dinner event for DESK’s guests on Friday, December 5, 2008. Thanks to Rafi and all of his staff for great food and support during the Holiday season. Thanks to Robert, Daniel, Chris, Linda, Ernie, and John. Linda, the candy canes, hats, and gloves you brought were a big hit! (On a side note, DESK hopes the Holiday Dinner will become an annual event for DESK.)
Friday meals are coordinated by Efan Wu and Josh Pruttle of Yale Hunger Heroes who are doing a GREAT job
Yale University singing group Proof of Pudding sang holiday songs, which helped set the atmosphere for all.
If I did not list you, please understand that it was only an oversight! Just send me an email, and I will remedy things right away! I’m sure I have forgotten many of you here in this message of thanks.
In closing, I wish all of you a happy and prosperous New Year. It is because of what we all do together, as a Community, that has made DESK what it is today. I am so proud of working for such a great organization and am very happy that we offer all the services we do. I also feel so lucky to have all of you chipping in and being a part of DESK.
Here’s to 2009—happy new year, everyone!
All the Best Wishes,
Jeanne Marie May
Director of Operations
Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen
JeanneMarieMay@aol.com
203-809-8770
Current Needs
Food Drives
In moving forward into 2009, we must all diligently keep up with the increasing demand for DESK’s food services, but please check before conducting food drives to find out precisely what we need—it changes quickly. Please also try to check expiration dates on items you are donating; otherwise, it becomes a very time-consuming process for us and may produce issues of food safety. Anything beyond the expiration date we, too, must throw away.
Summertime
As spring approaches, we will start gearing up for what we expect to be a record-breaking summer. As many of you know, the warm months are our busiest, and we will need help more than ever during those long summer days. Please keep us in mind if you have a group interested in helping us prepare food!
Quick Notes
The “Greening of Desk”
We have made changes that we hope will help DESK continue to move forward. I am so very proud and happy to say that we are now nearly a “90% Green” Soup Kitchen.
We have also converted to recyclable “sporks” and to an eco-friendly chemical system for cleaning dishes and floors. We expect the serving size of meals we serve to increase, while our cost and waste will decrease. From now on, we will most likely need at least two folks at each meal for “dish duty.” If you are looking for a way to get involved, and are willing to come on down and do this task, we have spots available. Otherwise, I am happy to report that all serving positions are still filled.
Changing of the Board
Congratulations to new board members Tammy Ann George and Harold Scheffler, both voted onto the Board of Directors in January.
After having served on Board of Directors for over five years, Jan Simpson has retired from her position with us. Jan will be missed greatly in all our fundraising efforts.
William Hyde, Jr., has also resigned as DESK Treasurer. Fondly known as Bill, he served in the position for over two years. Bill was also an ever-present face and constant support at all DESK fundraisers, and he will be missed by all at DESK. In particular, he has been a great source of support for Executive Director Diana M. Richter, Ph.D. We will miss you, Bill!
Information
Food Donations
You may drop off food donations at 311 Temple Street between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Please call the kitchen (203-772-3400) before you come to make sure that DESK staff will be present! DESK cannot take food donations on Sundays!
Please remember that all of DESK’s offices and operations are closed on Fridays and Saturdays. Volunteers will not be accepted on these days, nor will deliveries or food donations be received. Volunteer calls should only be made Sunday through Thursday. Thanks!
Volunteer Opportunities
Email 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. Also, please note that DESK does not accept all community service and court appointed volunteers. Please email Jeanne to check for openings.
E-Newsletter Subscriptions
Removal from E-Newsletter List
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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 DESK
Diana M. Richter
Executive Director
P.O. Box 1478
New Haven, CT 06506
Phone: 203-624-6426
Fax: 203-624-22116
director@downtowneveningsoupkitchen.com