Dear friend,

Imagine being hungry, isolated, and having to depend on social services for food and groceries. Now imagine you have medical condition, like Diabetes, Crohn’s disease, hypertension, or celiac disease. You are grateful for the food you receive, however, the majority of what you get can potentially make you sick or even worsen your condition. Think of the waste and the lack of dignity.

When I started to volunteer with Lift UP five years ago, the staff were hearing increasing requests from clients with specific dietary requirements. Low sugar, reduced salt, gluten-free, high protein, nut allergies, no pork, and many other dietary-specific foods were in high demand. So each Friday, I went into the Lift UP warehouse and created nutritionally specific food boxes with the clients’ individualized requirements in mind.

Picture a Delivered Food Box filled with customized, healthy, and nutritious meals, created just for your needs.

In the beginning, I made about five boxes a week. Now, more than 30% of our Delivered Food Boxes are customized to meet clients’ needs. That’s more than 100 clients each month who are receiving medically or culturally specific food boxes. They know the food they receive from Lift UP can be prepared and eaten with confidence.

​We’re proud to offer this unique service to our clients, but we can’t do it without your support. Many of the nutritionally specific foods don’t come through our partnership with Oregon Food Bank and the food donations Lift UP receives. It needs to be purchased. Thanks to our community partnerships, Lift UP is able to purchase high-demand foods in bulk, so your donation has an incredible impact. In fact, each $5 donation equals 15 meals our neighbors can enjoy with assurance.

Gratefully,

Alex Pentland
Lift UP Volunteer and Board Member

With spring right around the corner, the Lift UP Annual Spring Food and Fund Drive will be here before you know it! Consider partnering with Lift UP to support our neighbors who face obstacles in obtaining the food they need to maintain healthy, happy lives.

For more information, contact Community Engagement Manager Brett at brett@lifturbanportland.org or 503-221-1224 ext. 106

Food brings us together.