Media

Media & Community in Action

Real photographs from the Upon This Rock warming center in New Haven — the volunteers, the partners, and the neighbors we serve.

Annual Outreach Community Gala

A Night of Community & Impact

Celebrating an evening of fellowship, generosity, and shared commitment to strengthening our community and supporting the mission of Shelter Connection.

Guests gathered together at the Annual Outreach Community Gala

An honoree receiving an award at the Gala

Community partners and supporters celebrating at the Gala

An award presentation at the Annual Outreach Community Gala

Award recipients holding their certificates at the Gala

Guests and honorees together at the Gala

Group photo of Gala attendees in front of the UTRS Gala backdrop

Before the doors open

Preparing the shelter

Volunteers assemble beds, organize supplies, and ready every room before the first guest arrives.

Volunteers kneeling on the floor assembling metal shelter bed frames — Volunteers assembling shelter beds before the season opens

A room lined with assembled shelter bed frames ready for guests — The completed shelter-bed setup, ready to welcome guests

Volunteers standing and talking in a shelter room with bunk beds — Volunteers and staff finishing the bunk room together

Welcome & check-in

Every guest is greeted by name

Registration, intake, and on-site health screenings with our community partners.

Guests lined up at a registration table inside the warming center — Guests checking in at the registration table

A guest seated at a blue check-in table receiving a health screening — Health screening and check-in with our community partners

Community in action

Warm meals, warm beds, warm welcome

Meals shared, supplies distributed, and a safe place to rest for the night.

Guests resting on shelter beds with blankets and supplies — A safe, warm place to rest for the night

Families, children and volunteers standing together in the shelter bunk room — Families and volunteers serving together inside the shelter

Long table lined with bags of fresh produce ready for neighbors to pick up — Bags of fresh produce packed and ready for pickup

Tables of produce bags outside the Upon This Rock Community Services entrance as a volunteer unloads a farm-fresh box — Food distribution outside the Grand Avenue entrance

A neighbor picking up a bag of fresh vegetables at the distribution table — A neighbor picks up fresh vegetables

A volunteer and a neighbor sorting bags of produce at the outdoor distribution table — Volunteers sorting produce with neighbors

Student volunteers gathered outside the Upon This Rock Community Services entrance in New Haven

Partners on the ground

Serving alongside our neighbors

Serving With Compassion Students from Choate Rosemary High School volunteer at the shelter on Grand Avenue, giving their time, energy, and compassion to support our guests and serve the New Haven community.

From our Facebook

Watch the latest from Upon This Rock Outreach

A look at our neighbors, our volunteers, and the work happening in New Haven.

Video on Facebook

Watch on Facebook

Press & community coverage

Our Work in the News

Local and statewide newsrooms have followed the warming center since the first night the doors opened. Read their coverage of the work happening on Grand Avenue.

Patch · New Haven

Shelter Owned By Columbus House Run By Upon This Rock Ministries

Patch covers the New Haven shelter on Grand Avenue, owned by Columbus House and operated by Upon This Rock, and the neighbors it keeps warm each night.

Read Story

NBC Connecticut

Renovated Shelter In New Haven Offers Beds Ahead Of Cold Temperatures

NBC Connecticut visits the renovated warming center as staff and volunteers prepare beds for the cold-weather season in New Haven.

Read Story

New Haven Independent

Shelter Celebrates Full Year Of Changing Lives

The New Haven Independent marks a full year of the shelter — meals shared, beds filled, and guests moving into stable housing.

Read Story