The Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen
http://www.downtowneveningsoupkitchen.com
Upcoming Events
Horn of Plenty
The New Haven Young Lawyers Sections and the Connecticut Bar Association Young Lawyers Sections are proud to present this annual food and clothing drive. Donations will be accepted through November 17, and the proceeds will assist D.E.S.K. in providing clothing and a delightful Thanksgiving meal for those in need. For more information, download the informational flier [www.downtowneveningsoupkitchen.com/downloads/horn_of_plenty_flier.pdf].
Yale Science Hill Food Drive
The Peabody Museum will host this year’s “Science Hill Holiday” on Thursday, December 7, in Yale’s “Great Hall of Dinosaurs.” Each year, Yale faculty, staff, and students from the science departments who attend the event asked to donate non-perishable food items when they arrive, and the proceeds from this year’s food drive will benefit D.E.S.K.
YHHAP Fast
Each year, D.E.S.K. receives funds raised by the YHHAP Fast; in the spring semester of 2006 alone, the YHHAP Fast raised $650 for D.E.S.K.! The money raised by the fast helps supply the kitchen at 311 Temple St.
Any Yale student can get involved with the YHHAP Fast, which will take place next Thursday, November 16. The fast is the main YHHAP event of the semester, and it is the sole source of funding for all of YHHAP’s projects. Please sign up for the fast at http://www.yale.edu/yhhap/fast/.
Students may also volunteer at one of the fast’s tables, which entails being stationed outside a dining hall for an hour during dinner and encouraging students to sign up for the fast. “Tabling” is very simple, but it greatly helps increase awareness about the event. Tables will operate from Monday, November 6, to Tuesday, November 14, and if you are interested in helping, e-mail Jane Levy at jane.levy@yale.edu, who will send you more information.
Thanks & Recognition
Church of Saint Aedan Food Drive
From August 2006 through October 2006, the Church of Saint Aedan (Westville, CT) held a huge food drive to gather nonperishable food items for D.E.S.K. Parishioners donated over 1,000 pounds of food, which will stock the pantry program that D.E.S.K. holds every Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. at 311 Temple St in New Haven. D.E.S.K. would especially like to thank Sandie Sammarco for helping on the day of the pickup.
Church of Saint Aedan
Rev. Thomas B. Shepard, Pastor
112 Fountain Street
New Haven, CT 06515
203-389-2616
staedan@sbcglobal.net
Cook & Care Walk-A-Thon
This year’s Cook & Care Walk-A-Thon, held in October, raised $8,000 for D.E.S.K.! Thank you to the many individuals and groups who participated in the event, especially D.E.S.K. board members Erin Shaffer, Bill Hyde, Jr., Alex Wellek, Blanche Baldwin, Liz Cox, and Octavious McAuley.
Students of the Foote School
Third graders from the Foote School decided to raise money for D.E.S.K., among other New Haven organizations, by making and selling soup, jam, chutney, and pizza to members of the Foote community. The third graders, under the guidance of their teacher, Deborah Rhoads, sent D.E.S.K. a check for $500!
Students from The Foote School have served D.E.S.K.’s Wednesday-evening meals at United Church in New Haven for many years, and they have never missed a meal during any school year! Margaret and Miss Valentine help transport and supervise the students every Wednesday.
Current Needs
Yalies—Please help at the kosher meal!
D.E.S.K. would like to invite Yale students to help us cook a kosher dinner on Sunday evenings at the Slifka Center. Two or three people are needed at the Slifka Center Kitchen (80 Wall St) from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoons to help prepare the evening’s meal.
To sign up or obtain more information, contact the Sunday coordinator of Yale Hunger Heroes, Eliza Schafler (eliza.schafler@yale.edu). D.E.S.K.’s Sunday meal schedule can be found on our website.
For information about Yale Hunger Heroes, contact: Nicole.Aaronson@Yale.edu.
“Talking Turkey”—Thanksgiving Operations Overview
The week of Thanksgiving will be very busy for D.E.S.K., and we need a lot of help. To participate in any of the following opportunities, email Jeanne (no phone calls, please) at JeanneMarieMay@aol.com. All activities will take place at 311 Temple St (Center Church Parish House Basement).
D.E.S.K. will shop for food for its Thanksgiving operations on Monday, November 20.
D.E.S.K. needs five to ten people to help prepare food and distribute turkey baskets from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 21. At 10:00 a.m., D.E.S.K. will give out turkeys with all the “fixins” to guests who have signed up to receive them. D.E.S.K. anticipates providing over 350 Thanksgiving meals this year!
Wednesday at the D.E.S.K. kitchen will be a bee-hive of activity as several volunteer groups prepare over 300 Turkey dinners delivered by ICM and friends to the needy of greater New Haven. Three to five people will be needed to help from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Between 300 and 400 turkey meals will be distributed on Thursday at 10:30 a.m.; later, at noon, DESK will hold its Thanksgiving meal at 311 Temple Street. All are welcome! The Thanksgiving blessing will be given by Rev. Sandra Olsen, pastor of Center Church on the Green. Watch for a special e-newsletter at the end of November, which will recount the Thanksgiving event and recognize those who helped out.
In conjunction with the Thanksgiving preparations, D.E.S.K. would like to extend a special thanks to the Ladies’ Home Missionary Society of First Church of Christ and Center Church on the Green. The ladies donated $500 to help defray the costs of D.E.S.K.’s and I.C.M.’s 2006 Thanksgiving efforts.
Urgent Thanksgiving Needs
By Monday, November 21, D.E.S.K. desperately needs donations of the following:
•family-size chicken stocks (in cans or plastic)—most pressing need!
•bags of seasoned stuffing
•cans of cranberry sauce
•gravy mix (canned or in packets)
•butter
Please remember: D.E.S.K. continues to struggle, serving increasing numbers of people with decreasing resources. More families and children are dependent on D.E.S.K. than ever before, so please keep us in mind this Thanksgiving season!
Special Note
From the Executive Director, D. M. Richter, Ph.D.
D.E.S.K. has just begun its 2006 “Annual Letter Appeal,” and we desperately need your financial support to continue in our mission of feeding the hungry and food insecure of greater New Haven. Without your help, D.E.S.K. will have no choice but to cut back its programs, and the closure of the entire operation is still a very real possibility! Your generosity will enable us to continue to carry out our important work as we celebrate 20 years of service to the community.
Please see the D.E.S.K. website for more information.
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
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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