Dear neighbor,

As fires have raged across the West Coast, our hearts go out to all who are impacted. Sadly, the air quality in Portland continues to hinder our ability to provide open and free access to the community. Until conditions improve, we are postponing any scheduled events.

Preston’s Pantry will be closed on Thursday, September 17 and Friday, September 18. We aim to reopen on Tuesday, September 22. Please call 505-221-1224 or email Lift UP for current updates. Access Oregon Food Bank’s Food Finder to locate open food distribution services near you.

The Food Drive at First United Methodist Church is postponed until Saturday October 3 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.

Food and local farms have been directly affected by the smoke. If you are concerned about how to safely consume food that has been exposed to smoke, our friends at Winter Green Farm shared some tips from Oregon State University about how best to prepare and eat produce that may have been affected by the smoke and ash in the atmosphere:

Fruits and vegetables in the garden that have been showered with ash from wildfires should be safe to consume, according to Oregon State University Extension Service experts.

Ash and smoke are unlikely to penetrate fruit and vegetables, however, safety becomes more of an issue the closer you are to a fire. Note how much ash collected on your produce and the health of your plant to make a determination.

In addition to rinsing, peel produce like tomatoes, apples and root crops and strip the outer leaves of lettuces and other greens. For a more thorough cleaning, soak vegetables and fruits in a 10% white vinegar solution (one teaspoon vinegar to three cups water), which can lift soil particles off vegetables like kale, Swiss chard, savoy cabbage and fruit like peaches, apricots and nectarines.

On a much more uplifting note, Street Roots featured several local food pantries this week, including Preston’s Pantry. Despite facing the greatest level of food insecurity seen in recent times, we’re all working together to keep our neighbors fed, happy, and healthy! A special thanks to Program Manager Teresa and Preston’s Pantry volunteer Susan for providing a warm welcome to the Street Roots team. Read the full article here.

We want to reiterate the following reminders to our Lift UP community to stay safe and healthy throughout this difficult time. With the air quality at a hazardous level, we are encouraging people to stay inside until conditions improve. Common short-term side effects of inhaling smoke particles are eye irritation, sore throat, runny nose, phlegm production, wheezy breathing and headaches. DEQ gave the following advice for how to protect yourself from smoke:

- Stay inside if possible and keep windows and doors closed.
- Don’t do anything strenuous outside if you can avoid it.
- Be aware of smoke in your area and avoid places with the highest levels.
- Use HEPA filters that can be either portable or can be installed in indoor heating, ventilation, cooling and air purification systems.
- Talk to your doctor if you have lung disease or asthma.

It’s also important to know that the basic masks people wear to protect themselves and others from the coronavirus aren’t effective against wildfire smoke.

Below are links to some resources provided through Oregon Food Bank which can be helpful as we manage our own trauma and support our community members: Trauma Tips for Coping and Recovering from Wildfires.

Stay healthy and safe!

Sincerely,
The Lift UP Staff