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.

October 2023 - First Half

Can you believe it's already October? Time flies! As September wrapped up Hunger Action Month, I'm thrilled to share the outstanding progress we made towards our Nutty Goal: collecting 5,000 jars of nut butter by year-end.

A big shout-out to our community! We've already amassed the equivalent of 1,120 jars – that's 22% of our target!

September 2023 - Second Half

September marks the onset of Hunger Action Month, a nationwide campaign rallying communities to unite against hunger. Countless people families are grappling with heightened food insecurity due to soaring food prices and the recent cuts to the SNAP program. At Lift UP, we served 36% more people since SNAP benefits were cut in March of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. Many are first-time shoppers.

As we navigate trying to keep up with demand, we invite you to help by participating in our annual Fall Food and Fund Drive. This year, we're taking a twist on our tradition by focusing our Fall drive on one of the most "spreadable" sources of goodwill – nut butter!

September 2023 - First Half

September marks the onset of Hunger Action Month, a nationwide campaign rallying communities to unite against hunger. Countless people families are grappling with heightened food insecurity due to soaring food prices and the recent cuts to the SNAP program. At Lift UP, we served 36% more people since SNAP benefits were cut in March of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. Many are first-time shoppers.

As we navigate trying to keep up with demand, we invite you to help by participating in our annual Fall Food and Fund Drive. This year, we're taking a twist on our tradition by focusing our Fall drive on one of the most "spreadable" sources of goodwill – nut butter!

August 2023

With the vibrant greens and yellows of zucchini and squash dotting our pantry and Delivered Food Boxes, we have been able to nurture the well-being of our neighbors. This is thanks in part to partners like Verdier Farms, who have provided not only zucchini and squash but also cucumbers, cabbage, and beautiful purple green beans.

At the heart of our operations lies a core belief: Food is a human right. Everyone deserves access to food – and not just any food – high quality, nutritious, fresh food. Last year 47% of the food Lift UP distributed was fresh produce. 82% of Delivered Food Box recipients report eating more produce because of the food provided by Lift UP.

July 2023

As the summer sun graces our days with warmth, turning on the stove can sometimes feel like adding a log to the fire. Our Supper Club has been busy exploring ways to keep kitchens cool while still enjoying vibrant, nutritious meals. More than just a cooking class, Supper Club is a culinary haven where stronger community ties are forged with residents, and delicious memories are made.

In her quest for summer-friendly fare, this week Supper Club Coordinator Natasha Butcher-Cook guided Medallion Apartment residents in the craft of making fresh, nutritious spring rolls. This culinary adventure led them through an array of crunchy vegetables, aromatic herbs, and protein-packed tofu.