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WHO WE ARE…

Our Mission:

To serve people experiencing homelessness or living in poverty by providing food assistance and services that promote health, community, and equity.

Our Values:

 – Respect

 – Dignity

 – Community

 – Empathy

 – Empowerment

Cornerstones of Approach:

  • Low-Barrier Services

  • Person-Centered Engagement

  • Harm-Reduction Principles

  • Client-Driven Change

DESK began in 1987 as a grassroots, community response to the sudden rise in homelessness on the New Haven Green. 

Over the years, our program and services have grown to respond to an increase in the need with more complex services, progressive strategies, and empathic approaches. Originally a program of Downtown Cooperative Ministries, DESK was incorporated as an independent, non-denominational organization in 1989.  In 2003, we expanded to serve dinner five nights per week and added a weekly Food Pantry program, all based out of Center Church’s Parish House at 311 Temple Street. 

In 2021, DESK opened New Haven’s first low-barrier, Downtown Drop-in & Resource Center for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness at 266 State Street.

WHAT WE DO

                       Meals

DESK serves dinner outside 311 Temple St. from 5:00-6:00 pm, Sunday through Thursday. Check out today’s menu.

On Friday & Saturday, we partner with Yale Community Kitchen, which distributes dinner at the same time next door at 323 Temple St.  All are welcome!  No questions asked!

For more information, call
(475) 331-6137 during business hours.

             Downtown Pantry

DESK distributes whole foods, grocery-style at 57 Olive St. from 1:30-3:00 pm every Wednesday.

All are welcome, but we do ask for everyone to complete a very short intake form.  Please bring your own reusable bag!

  

For more information, call
(475) 331-6137 during business hours.

            Drop-in & Resource Center

DESK operates New Haven’s low-barrier Downtown day program for people who are on the street, Sunday through Friday, 1:30-5:30 pm. The DRC is located at 266 State St. and offers basic needs and a variety of services to connect folks to shelter, housing, and income assistance.

For more information, call (475) 227-3009 during program hours.(475) 331-6137

Join Our Team

Employment, Internships, Board Openings

 

Get Some Swag

T-shirts, Hats , Sweatshirts, & More

MEET OUR LEADERSHIP

MANAGEMENT TEAM

STEVE WERLIN

STEVE WERLIN

Executive Director

TINA PAOLILLO

TINA PAOLILLO

Program Director

EVAN SERIO

EVAN SERIO

Program Manager

MEAGAN HOWARD

MEAGAN HOWARD

Food Services Manager

 

 

 

 

LUIS OLMO-RIVERA

LUIS OLMO-RIVERA

Development Director

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ALYSE SABINA, MPH

ALYSE SABINA, MPH

Board President, Independent Consultant

        

SOFIA I. MORALES, MPH, CPH

SOFIA I. MORALES, MPH, CPH

Board Vice-President, Yale School of Public Health

   DAVID NORMAN-SCHIFF, Esq.

DAVID NORMAN-SCHIFF, Esq.

Board Treasurer, Wiggin & Dana, LLP

CAITLIN RYUS, MD., MPH

CAITLIN RYUS, MD., MPH

Board Secretary, Yale School of Medicine, Emergency Medicine

DENISE DEAN

DENISE DEAN

Program Chair, Fair Haven Community Health Care

JOY GRAY, Esq.

JOY GRAY, Esq.

CT State's Attorney Office, Division of Criminal Justice

TIM OPSTRUP, MA

TIM OPSTRUP, MA

Immediate Past Board President, Finance & Administration, Yale Ventures

NATALIE JUDD

NATALIE JUDD

Development Chair, Big Voice Communications

AMELEA LOWRY

AMELEA LOWRY

At-Large, Yale School of Medicine Health Equity

LAURIE SCHEINER MD

LAURIE SCHEINER MD

At-Large, Nominations Chair, Community Health Center, Retired

SELENE SOBERT

SELENE SOBERT

At-Large, Beacon Communities, LLC

PASTOR KELCY STEELE

PASTOR KELCY STEELE

At-Large, Varick A.M.E. Church

 

 SHIEKH NAHIYAN

SHIEKH NAHIYAN

Ex Officio, Yale Community Kitchen

 

TRANSPARENCY

This notice describes the privacy policy of the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK).  We may amend this policy at any time.  We collect personal information only when appropriate.  We may use or disclose your information to provide you with services.  We may also use or disclose it to comply with legal and other obligations.  We assume that you agree to allow us to collect information and to use or disclose it as described in this notice.  You can inspect personal information about you that we maintain.  You can also ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.  You can ask us about our privacy policy or practices.  We respond to questions and complaints.  Read the full notice for more details.  Anyone can have a copy of the full notice upon request.