Closing the Meal Gap: CSK's Three-Year Plan to Feed the Hungry
Eleven neighborhoods in New Haven face poverty rates over 25%, impacting more than 16,000 food-insecure residents. Even with existing SNAP benefits and emergency food providers, the city faces a 2.5 million meal gap each year.
In 2025, CSK launched “Closing the Meal Gap,” a three-year strategic plan to replicate our proven neighborhood-centric meal service model across the city. By empowering local leaders and partnering with community organizations, we are designing food service solutions tailored to each neighborhood’s unique needs.
Year One Results (2025)
Our first year exceeded expectations. We served 258,145 meals — nearly triple 2024’s 86,111 — and opened three new neighborhood locations:
2025 Results (Year One)
Downtown (84 Broadway)
Newhallville (5 Hazel St.)
The Hill (33 Lamberton St.)
Fair Haven (75 Hamilton St.)
Dixwell (St. Martin de Porres)
Our fully loaded cost per meal fell to $2.71 in 2025 and to $2.49 so far in 2026, demonstrating that growth and efficiency can go hand in hand.
2027 Goal
Serve about 382,000 meals a year, closing 15% of New Haven’s citywide meal gap.
Year Two (2026)
CSK passed its full-year goal of 230,101 meals in September, serving 245,123 meals from January through September. In November, the new Mobile Meal Program began service in West Rock and West River. A second production kitchen is in development in Fair Haven.
How You Can Help
Your support helps us build on program spending of more than 90% and our volunteer workforce to deliver maximum impact for every dollar donated.