DESK is Seeking Board Members

Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen is currently accepting nominations for membership on their Board of Directors. Ideal candidates will be passionate about and committed to DESK's Mission. There are multiple seats available. Nominations accepted until May 28th. Interested Candidates should email a cover letter and resume to Sofia Morales at sofia.morales@yale.edu, with "Board Member Application" in the subject line.

Please click link for more information: DESK

Free Tax Preparation for Qualifying Taxpayers

The IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. The VITA program has operated for over 50 years. VITA sites offer free tax help to people who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns, including:

• People who generally make $57,000 or less
• Persons with disabilities; and
• Limited English-speaking taxpayers

In addition to VITA, the TCE program offers free tax help, particularly for those who are 60 years of age and older, specializing in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors.

While the IRS manages the VITA and TCE programs, the VITA/TCE sites are operated by IRS partners and staffed by volunteers who want to make a difference in their communities. The IRS-certified volunteers who provide tax counseling are often retired individuals associated with non-profit organizations that receive grants from the IRS.

• Find a VITA or TCE Site Near You: VITA and TCE sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls and other convenient locations across the country. 
• To locate the nearest VITA or TCE site near you, use the VITA Locator Tool or call 800-906-9887.

FISH of Greater New Haven Needs You!

Charlie Urban-Mead, who is a program manager and volunteer coordinator at Food in Service to the Homebound (FISH) of Greater New Haven is reaching out to faith groups in and around New Haven because they are experiencing a need for volunteer drivers. FISH of Greater New Haven has served the area for over 50 years, and recently gotten involved with COVID response work through our Pantry to Pantry program. We deliver healthy groceries to low-income residents of New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, and East Haven who can’t leave their homes to access standard “walk-up” food pantries. They need volunteers who can come between 10am and 4pm on weekdays to pick up grocery bags at our pantry warehouse at 269 Peck St, New Haven, and drive a 1-2 hour delivery route to drop off food at 4-6 homes. Those who are interested should complete this sign-up form, or visit our website or contact curbanmead@fishgnh.org. 

Connecticut Hospice

Volunteers are Needed! The Connecticut Hospice in Branford is accepting applications for new volunteers!! Our patients and families are in need of your care and support. If you have an interest in Reception or Patient Companionship, please call Joan Cullen, Director of Volunteers at 203-315-7510

COVID19 Vaccine Information for all Connecticut Residents

Please check state website for further information on eligibility: Get Vaccinated.

• To schedule an appointment, go to: ct.gov/covidvaccine or call:877-918-2224
• For more information on the state appointment system, please click here: VAMS

Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services

IRIS is recruiting female volunteers to work with refugee & immigrant women in New Haven, for our Cultural Companions Program! We're currently looking to pair volunteers with our refugee & immigrant female clients to meet weekly for 3-6 months, outdoors, or in a large public space where there is room for social distancing. The purpose of the weekly meetings is to practice English, share culture, and explore the community. Please see below for a more detailed description. If you are interested, please fill out the general Iris Volunteer Application at: https://irisct.org/volunteer/ Also do the specialized Cultural Companions Application HERE. For questions please contact: amakar@irisct.org.

Emergency Housing Help Needed for Afghan Refugees

Thousands of Afghan families who helped the U.S. government are now fleeing Afghanistan. Our partners at IRIS are ready to welcome these families being evacuated and brought to the U.S. — in some cases, with only a 24 hour notice. Help IRIS find housing for Afghan families! Click the link, and fill out the form, if you have any Housing Leads For more information, or to make a monetary donation, go to: Join the Welcomers. 

Connecticut Needs a Recovery for All

Our colleagues at the Southern New England Conference, UCC, invite us to join with a state-wide coalition of labor, community, and faith organizations called Recovery for All, to advocate for a state budget that would bring equity to low and middle class families, address income inequality, and begin to shift institutional racism in CT. To learn more and contact your legislators, please click here.

Vaccinations for the Homebound in New Haven

The Health Department, in partnership with American Medical Response, has begun a program to deliver vaccinations to homebound New Haven residents. This vaccine service, like all vaccinations for COVID-19 is free, and no insurance or documentation is necessary. If you are physically or medically unable to leave your home to go to a COVID-19 vaccination clinic, you are eligible for this vaccine service. Please call 1-877-918-2224 or visit the webpage ct.gov/homebound. These appointments will be available on Wednesdays from 9 am to 3:30 pm for homebound New Haven residents ages 16 and older. A nurse, accompanied by an EMT, will come by your place of residence once you are registered to administer the vaccine. 

Emergency Broadband Benefit

The FCC has a program to help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded by the American Rescue Plan, this new benefit will connect eligible households to jobs, critical healthcare services, virtual classrooms, and so much more. The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household. Click the link for more information, or to determine eligibility: FCC Broadband Benefit

Black Lives Matter New Haven Spring Drive

Our friends at Black Lives Matter New Haven are conducting their 5th annual spring drive. Please visit the Amazon wishlist to contribute items and have them shipped directly to the organizers. You may also make a financial donation at the BLMNH website.

Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen Grand Opening

DESK's opened a new Drop-In Center in April. This new location includes their administrative offices, food pantry, soup kitchen, wifi and health screenings. It is located at 266 State Street (near Crown St), New Haven, CT 06510. For more information and to donate to this effort: Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen.

Breakthrough Church in Hamden

Breakthrough Church is sponsoring a food pantry on the 2nd and 3rd Saturday of every month from 12Noon - 2:00PM. This is Walk-Up or Drive Through Food Pantry. No ID is required and it is open to all. If you are walking up, please bring a shopping cart and/or groceries bags to carry your food. The Breakthrough Church in located at 481 Shelton Avenue, Hamden CT 06517. Food is distributed at the Butler St. Entrance (parking lot). For more information go to:  www.breakthroughct.com or call 203-691-9296.

Young Evangelicals for Climate Action

Are you concerned about the urgency of the climate crisis? Would you like to explore some faith-based resources for taking action? You’re invited to join Jenna Van Donselaar, from Young Evangelicals for Climate Action, and Doug Clark, retired UCC pastor and environmental theologian, for a six-week podcast series around the theme of a “Fossil Fuel Free Lent.” We’ll be connecting the traditional Lenten practices of fasting and prayer with fasting from our use of fossil fuels and engaging in prayerful study of the creation narratives in the biblical book of Genesis. To listen to the podcast, search “Creation Care

Conversations” wherever you get your podcasts, or go to: Creation Care Conversations.

Food Resources Available

The City of New Haven recently launched a comprehensive list of food resources for residents to access during the COVID-19 pandemic. CLICK HERE for more information.

United Way Reaching Out

The United Way of Greater New Haven has created an online hub where they are posting volunteer opportunities and community needs. Visit their website and scroll down to the yellow buttons to learn more.  

Help With Prescription Delivery

Organized by Leslie Asanga, Pharmacist and Student at Yale School of Public Health. As a pharmacist in a community pharmacy, I still see a lot of people crowding the pharmacy to pick up life-saving medications despite recommendations for social distancing from the CDC and WHO. What breaks my heart is seeing the elderly and vulnerable people who are most likely to suffer the devastating effects of Covid-19 waiting in these long lines. Many of the elderly patients I have spoken to have no choice because they need their medications and have no one to help them. To that effect, we are using our platform www.pills2me.com where the elderly and vulnerable can request to have a volunteer pick up their medications and deliver them to their doorsteps same day. Our volunteers so far are Yale students and faculty and we are looking to recruit more volunteers. Could you please help spread the word within your community to help us reach the people who can benefit from our services

Internet Fraud - Protect Yourself

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, we have seen a rise in the incidents of internet fraud and scams. Double check the "from" address. Don't share financial or banking information online. Verify suspicious emails by phone. Click the link below for more information on how to protect yourself and your family from internet crime. FCC Internet Safety

Christ Church Community Soup Kitchen Is Open

The Community Soup Kitchen at Christ Church in New Haven will continue to serve food as prepackaged take out. The take-out soup kitchen is going on at the Community Soup Kitchen located at Christ Church dining room at 84 Broadway, New Haven CT 06511. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday they will serve take away lunch from their dining room back door at 11AM - 1:30PM in prepackaged units. Saturdays they will serve breakfast in the same fashion 8AM - 9:45AM. The soup kitchen is open to anyone, including people who are affected by school closings. When the health department gives the "All Clear" they will resume indoor weekday lunch (11:30-1) and Saturday breakfast (8:30-9:30) food service. For more information, go to: www.csknewhaven.org