July 2024

Cecilia Estraviz, Operations Manager for Lift UP, is always looking for ways to serve more neighbors. Lift UP provides food security services to 50 affordable buildings in Downtown and NW Portland. In 30 of these buildings, we have dedicated funding to “Adopt” the building, enabling us to offer our full suite of food security services: Delivered Food Boxes, Emergency Food Closets, and Supper Club (a 4-part cooking education series).

June 2024

As we get ready to face the increasingly common seasonal challenges of heat waves and wildfires, extreme weather events are stark reminders of how our choices impact our planet. Reflecting on our actions can help us mitigate the effects of climate change.

May 2024

On a recent sunny Wednesday, Natasha Butcher-Cook, our Supper Club Manager, whipped up a delightful Curried Chickpea Salad served in crisp lettuce cups at the Medallion apartments. Our Supper Club series isn't just about cooking; it's four weeks of nutrition education, culinary skills, and forging community bonds.

April 2024

Thank you so much! Your generous support made "Making Connections 2024" our most successful fundraiser yet, raising nearly $108,000! This was our first in-person event since 2019, and it was a remarkable success because of you.

March 2024

The end of March wrapped up National Nutrition Month. We want to take the time to reflect on the profound impact that health and nutrition have on our community. At Lift UP, we're dedicated to more than just providing meals; we're committed to nourishing our community's health by addressing the root causes of health disparities, anchored in the social determinants of health.

February 2024 Second Half

This February, as we embrace the dual spirit of winter's chill and Valentine's warmth, we are thrilled to announce the kickoff of our Soup-er Hero Food Drive. It's more than a food drive; it's a call to action for all heroes out there looking to make a tangible difference in our community.

February 2024 - First Half

The recent sunny weather in Portland might have made us momentarily forget the impact of the winter storm that hit a few weeks ago. However, its aftermath was significantly felt at Lift UP, where our volunteers and staff diligently worked to address delayed deliveries and increased demand at the pantry.

January 2024 - Second Half

Last week's winter weather brought considerable challenges, including power outages, icy conditions, burst pipes, and fallen trees, severely impacting our community. Unfortunately, these difficulties hit hardest for those with fewer resources, like the individuals we assist at Lift UP.

January 2024 - First Half

As we crack open the shell of 2024, I'm thrilled to share some 'nut'credible news from our Nut Butter Drive. Our Nut Butter Drive has not just hit its mark, but shattered its shell, surpassing our goal of 5,000 jars. With a whopping 7,800 jars collected, which will help us spread nourishment far and wide to our neighbors at Preston's Pantry and in our delivered food boxes, thanks to your generous spirit.

December 2023 - First Half

As we continue our dedicated efforts to combat food insecurity, we at Lift UP are excited to share with you the story of a remarkable ally in this mission – William Temple House. Like us, they are deeply committed to supporting our Portland-area neighbors, not only with food assistance but also through essential services like counseling, clothing, and household items.

November 2023

In the spirit of the season, let's embrace the unique "stickiness" of our community – that incredible, unbreakable bond of support and unity. At Lift UP, this stickiness is more than a metaphor; it's a tangible force, embodied by dedicated individuals like Kelly Dennis, our Resident Advocate (RA) at Park Tower Apartments. RAs are dedicated volunteers who assist with distributing food from onsite pantries and coordinating Lift UP's Delivered Food Boxes.

October 2023 - Second Half

As we round the corner into fall, the foods coming in for our neighbors reflect the season. Acorn squash, parsnips, radishes, carrots, sweet potatoes, and rutabagas are on our shelves. While we are still seeing more neighbors needing food than ever before in Lift UP’s history, we are grateful to provide fresh food in abundance to as many people as we can.

“My diet has completely changed since coming to Preston's Pantry. I hadn't had any fruits and veggies for three years before coming here. They're too expensive for me to use my SNAP on.” said a Preston's Pantry shopper during our recently held focus groups.