More than a meal

Making Connections at the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen

Students from SCSU's School of Nursing and Community Health Workers from Project Access participate in Know Your Numbers, a partnership that provides screenings, referrals, and patient navigation in the form of follow-ups. DESK is the first agency in New Haven to pilot the program, as a partnership with Yale-New Haven Health and CARE.

Families and individuals who are struggling to afford healthy food can find more than a hot meal at the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK). They can also receive a health screening, a referral to a housing or employment program, and access to food assistance benefits. Above all, they can feel part of a community, be with friends and not have to eat alone.

Working out of the Center Church Parish House basement on Temple Street in New Haven, DESK serves about 50,000 hot dinners plus 80,000 take-home meals every year. Because the people walking through its doors are often dealing with multiple problems related to living in poverty, DESK has established partnerships with other organizations to offer additional services during mealtimes.

Representatives from Yale New-Haven Health, Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center, Columbus House, the Women & Families Center, and other providers are onsite during evening meals to help people with health, housing, employment, and other needs.

DESK is a recent recipient of a general operating support grant from The Community Foundation.

Learn about volunteer opportunities at DESK.

To learn more or offer support, please visit the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen giveGreater.org® profile.

Did you know?

Thirteen percent of people statewide, and 21 percent in New Haven, who responded to the DataHaven 2018 Community Wellbeing Survey experienced times in the past 12 months when they did not have enough money to buy food that they needed.

This story is part of the Inspiration Monday story series produced by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.