The Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen
www.downtowneveningsoupkitchen.com
Remember to check out DESK’s calendar of upcoming events for a variety of fun and exciting fundraisers and activities!
Thanks and Recognition
Thanksgiving
Some of you might have noticed that DESK did not have a November e-newsletter. The lack of newsletter is mostly a consequence of the amount of work that DESK had to do to prepare for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving week is a very special and exhausting time of year for everyone at DESK, especially for Chef and Director of Operations Jeanne May and Evening Coordinator Daniel Evrard. So many individuals, groups, and businesses helped and supported DESK throughout the Thanksgiving season that Jeanne will be sending out a special Thanksgiving edition of the e-newsletter shortly. If you are not recognized this edition, just wait for the special Thanksgiving e-newsletter.
As the holiday season begins, the DESK Board, guests, and staff would like to wish everyone a very wonderful holiday celebration and a happy new year!
Jest for DESK
The “Jest for DESK” comedy night sponsored by the Young Lawyers Section of the New Haven County Bar Association was a smashing success. DESK would like to say a big thanks to the event organizers: DESK Board of Directors member Elizabeth Duryea with Bar Association members Todd Richardson and Rick Roberts. The New Haven Elks Lodge #25 offered their space, and the place was packed! Comedy headliners included Johnny Watson from The Laugh Factory in NYC, Saturday Night Live, and Good Morning America; Rick Roberts from Caroline’s, who also performs standup in NYC; host Pat Oates, who has appeared in several Connecticut Comedy Clubs; and Roberta Rockwell from Last Comic Standing.
Thank you also to DESK President Cindy McCarroll for arranging the Board of Directors’ raffle basket, to DESK Treasurer Bill Hyde, Jr., and to Board of Directors members Pauline Cheslock and Michelle Reynard for helping with setup and cleanup. Finally, DESK would also like to thank Chuck Cheslock for donating materials for the balloon staging, Joe Lockery for his sound system from Sounds Unlimited, and DESK Board of Directors member Michelle Reynard for taking great event photos. See the website for event photos.
DESK sincerely hopes the comedy night will become an annual fundraiser.
“Trick-Or-Eat” Halloween Food Drive
DESK would like to thank Board of Directors member and Yale Hunger Heroes Co-President Efan Wu, Yale student Ainsley Dicks, and other members of the Yale Hunger Heroes for organizing the Trick-Or-Eat campaign this Halloween. Trick-Or-Eat involved organizing groups of students for door-to-door soliciting in New Haven neighborhoods; instead of asking for candy, students asked residents to donate nonperishable food items to DESK.
The concentrated effort took place on Halloween night, Friday, October 31, when students went “Trick-Or-Eating” from 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. In conjunction with the food drive, there was also an ongoing fundraising effort: funds could be donated online with the option of having one’s donation directly benefit DESK. DESK has since received the donated funds and would like to thank all the Yale students who helped raise money and collect food items for DESK through Trick-Or-Eat.
Betsy Ross Coat Drive
The students of the Betsy Ross School in New Haven collected coats for DESK in November. The seventh graders who participated were Antonio Cruz and Susan Zea. Participating eighth graders included the following: Kate Betlej, Kerri Stankye, Brittany Willoughby, Sbyutoslav Korneyev, Peter Charneyk, Jonelle Sedgwick, and Jasmine Lopes. Principal Peggy Moore, Physical Education teacher and National Junior Honor Society advisor Velma Lyons, and teacher Margaret Piasecki were proud to help the students collect the donated coats for DESK.
See photos on web site.
Yale Peabody Museum helps DESK
The Yale Peabody Museum hosted their annual Science Hill Holiday Party on December 9. Five hundred volunteers, staff and faculty members, and students were in attendance, bringing food donations for DESK. Thank you very much to all those who helped with this effort, especially Patricia Brunetto.
Current Needs
Holiday Food Drive
Rimage Salon and Spa has kicked off its annual holiday food drive to benefit DESK. Donations can be dropped off at 1210 Chapel Street (New Haven), Tuesday through Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Participants will receive 10% off any retail or holiday gift certificate purchase as a thank you gift for their support. Please help Rimage Salon and Spa and DESK feed the hungry here in New Haven. “Today is a gift to cherish—spend it wisely!”
For additional information, contact Rimage Salon and Spa at rimagesalon@sbcglobal.net or 203-562-4247.
Diblasi Promo
‘Tis the season for gift giving! Now is the time of year to thank all of those customers who supported you and your business this year. Stand out from your competitors by offering your clients a thoughtful and meaningful gift. The Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen invites you to visit www.diblasipromos-desk.com for your business gift-giving needs this season. Every order placed from New Haven County businesses through the Diblasi promotion website will bring a 10% donation to DESK! The site offers popular gift baskets, customized 2009 calendars, chocolates, and a number of other items that will make nice holiday gifts.
Promote your business, thank your customers, and help feed New Haven’s hungry this holiday season. For more information call 866-596-9991 or email desk@diblasipromos.com.
Annual Letter Appeal
In November, DESK began its Letter Appeal 2008—please consider donating to DESK during this holiday season. Remember that the largest percentage of DESK funding comes from private donations, and without continuing support, DESK will close.
We know times are hard for all families and businesses, but please try to donate something to DESK so it can continue the invaluable emergency food services it provides for the New Haven community.
For more information on all of DESK’s services, please visit www.downtowneveningsoupkitchen.com.
Quick Notes
The “Greening of Desk”
In the last few months, Board of Directors members Michelle Reynard and Efan Wu have been researching ways for DESK to “go green.”
DESK has traditionally used Styrofoam plates and cups at our nightly meals. Given the increasing number of meals we serve per week—nearly 1,000 during certain times of the year—the use of Styrofoam plates and cups generates not only an enormous amount of non-recyclable waste but also a substantial monetary cost. Now that DESK has centralized operations at 311 Temple Street, we’ve been able to consider a more environmental and budget-friendly solution: plastic trays and cups cleaned by a retrofitted commercial dishwasher.
DESK would have been unable to afford these changes were it not for the generosity of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, which funded the dishwasher upgrade; Olympia Properties, LLC; the Yale Student Environmental Coalition, which funded drying racks; and Shalom United Church of Christ, which purchased trays and cups in conjunction with an anonymous matching grant. We look forward to putting the dishwashing system to use in 2009.
Director of Operations Jeanne May estimates that DESK will save over $1,200 per month in Styrofoam and trash hauling fees, money which will help defray ever greater costs during this difficult economic time.
Information
Holiday Operations
DESK does not accept toys for the Holidays; however, DESK does accept coats, hats, gloves, socks, scarves, and sweaters for our guests throughout the winter months.
All DESK food services will be closed from Monday, December 22, until Sunday, January 4.
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
Sign up today for this great way to get DESK news and events every month, or sign up friends and family. It’s easy: just go to http://www.downtowneveningsoupkitchen.com/view.php5?page=newsletter.
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 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