Dear friend,
Did you know that adults over the age of 55 are the fastest-growing demographic of people experiencing homelessness nationwide? In Portland, the senior population is aging faster than the national average, and housing costs are driving seniors onto the streets at an alarming rate. Over the past two years, Multnomah County has seen a 15% increase in the senior unhoused population.
At Lift UP, nearly 60% of our neighbors served are seniors living on fixed incomes and tight budgets. Many must choose between food, medicine, or rent—a choice no one should have to make. That's why we've launched our Nourishing Seniors 65+ campaign, with a goal to raise $43,000 by January 1st to ensure seniors in our community have access to fresh, nutritious food all year long.
Can We Count on You to Make a Difference in Seniors' Lives?
Will you give to ensure that seniors have access to fresh, healthy food that helps them remain independent, housed, and engaged in their community?
Here's what your generosity can do:
A gift of $100 will provide fresh food for 35 seniors at a pantry pop-up event.
A gift of $250 equals 200 meals for seniors, delivered right to their homes in nutritious food boxes.
With a $500 gift, you can stock Preston's Pantry with a week's worth of fresh produce, ensuring our seniors have access to the wholesome food they need.
A generous gift of $1,000 supports an on-site pantry for an affordable housing community for half a year.
Every gift, whatever the size, helps us nourish, uplift, and support our seniors, empowering them to continue living full, independent lives.
Food Is More Than Nutrition—It's Vitality and Community
The food Lift UP provides doesn't just nourish—it sustains independence and brings relief. Seniors like 91-year-old Tone, a Delivered Groceries' client, know firsthand how access to healthy food transforms lives. "It helps me live a good life," Tone says. "It feels good not to worry about where I'll get my food."
At the Roselyn, a senior housing building adopted by Pizza Thief and AWS Elemental, nearly two-thirds of residents are seniors who benefit from the full suite of Lift UP's services: Delivered Groceries, an on-site pantry, and Supper Club nutrition classes. Recently, a pizza party hosted by Pizza Thief brought the community together, complete with a cooking demonstration by Chef Darby, who showed residents how to make a vinaigrette dressing for a radicchio salad.
"This is the best salad I've ever eaten," one resident shared, a testament to the joy and nourishment food can bring.
Together, We Can Nourish Portland's Seniors
Your support helps us provide not only food but also stability, community, and dignity for seniors in need. Help us ensure that no senior in Portland has to choose between essentials and food.
Make your year-end gift today and help us reach our $43,000 goal.
Make a gift today and get a free slice of pizza from our friends at Pizza Thief.
Together, we can continue lifting up our community and ensuring every senior has access to the food they need to thrive.
With Gratitude,
Stephanie Barr, Executive Director
Food brings us together.
