Dear friend,

As you may know, September is Hunger Action Month. According to Feeding America, there are more than 486,000 people facing food insecurity in the state of Oregon. Food insecurity has only worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Significant racial disparities which existed prior to the pandemic have also increased - 1out of 5 people of color experience food insecurity, as opposed to the 1 out of 9 white individuals. To learn more about how racism drives food insecurity, check out Feeding America’s interactive online tool. You can search data from across the U.S., down to the County level, exploring the intersections of race, poverty, ability status, and other factors that create the foundations of food insecurity. Understanding the systemic roots of hunger is key to achieving Lift UP’s vision of a connected community with abundant, nutritious food access.

Lift UP recently distributed a survey among our clients, both Preston’s Pantry shoppers and Delivered Food Box recipients, and we saw the impacts of rising food insecurity in our community. We found that nearly 50% of pantry shoppers were accessing our services for the first time and one-fifth of Delivered Food Box recipients relied on Lift UP for 60% of their monthly food. It’s clear our services are needed more so now than ever before.

How can you help?

Host a Food and Fund Drive in your community.

Collecting shelf-stable pantry items that will be redistributed to our neighbors in need is a great way to start! Donations can be brought to the Lift UP Warehouse Tuesdays and Fridays between 9am and 12pm. Please call 503-221-1224 ext. 101 or email warehouse@lifturbanportland.org to coordinate with our Warehouse Manager Ceci and get more information.

Host a Virtual Food Drive.

Maintaining social distance doesn’t mean you can’t still fight hunger in our community. Monetary donations make a huge impact for Lift UP- through our partnership with Oregon Food Bank, we’re able to increase our purchasing power and obtain the foods that have the biggest impact on our friends and neighbors facing food insecurity. To set up a Virtual Food Drive, connect with Community Engagement Manager Brett at 503-221-1224 ext. 106 or brett@lifturbanportland.org.

Volunteer.

Lift UP has a variety of volunteer opportunities available. From working with our community partners to source fresh, healthy foods, delivering Food Boxes to neighbors, or stocking Emergency Food Closets in our Adopted Buildings, there are plenty of ways to give back to our community. Please reach out to Volunteer Manager Abby at 503-221-1224 ext. 107 or abby@lifturbanportland.org.

Lift UP is seeking a Supper Club Coordinator!

Lift UP is seeking a passionate and skilled Supper Club Coordinator to relaunch our Supper Club programming. This program provides residents of affordable housing the opportunity to prepare and enjoy nutrient-dense foods in a welcoming community setting. The goals of Supper Club are to strengthen community connections and promote healthy eating by increasing knowledge of nutrition and teaching practical cooking skills in a fun environment of their peers.

The Supper Club Coordinator will adapt and develop multi-session curriculum to teach cooking skills and basic nutrition, plan implementation of programming, facilitate sessions, coordinate Supper Club volunteers, and evaluate outcomes and impact on the community.

“My favorite thing about Supper Club is learning about fruits and vegetables and making it easier to know how to use them in things. Also, SPICES! I literally only knew and thought to use salt and pepper before this class. Quote me on that!”

-  Supper Club participant at The Jeffrey Apartments

Are you or someone you know interested in this position? If so, click here for the job posting.

Gratefully,

The Lift UP Team

Food brings us together!