Dear friend, 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! Did you know this humble jar of creamy or crunchy delight tops the list of most sought-after items? People love it for its longer shelf life, easy storage and consumption, and exceptional nutritional value. With your help, Lift UP has set an audacious goal of amassing 5,000 jars of nut butter to fill our neighbors' pantries for the year. Quite a nutty goal, wouldn't you agree? But it's all to ensure our neighbors have their nutritional needs met for the year ahead. Robert Schofield, Resident Service Coordinator at Bud Clark Commons, shared his observations, "The transformative impact of Lift UP is nothing short of miraculous. For many of our low- or zero-income community members, securing the next meal is a constant concern." Providing a jar of nut butter and a loaf of bread is one of the simplest ways to offer a nourishing meal to someone transitioning from being unhoused to a safe place they can call home. Are you ready to help us spread the love? Here's How You Can Help: Host a Nut Butter Drive at Your Organization: Select a period between September and December to conduct your drive. We will work closely with you or your organization to facilitate a seamless collection process, including setting up a unique giving page and coordinating the collection bin drop-off. Sign up here. Organize a Nut Butter Fundraising Event for Your Family and Friends: Set up your giving/peer-to-peer fundraising page to share with friends. It takes one minute to set up your customizable giving page to share with your networks via email, text, or social media. To start this process, sign up here. Give to our Nut Butter Drive: Every $10 equals 4 nut butter jars. Give here. As always, thanks for the MANY ways you support feeding our neighbors. Stephanie Barr, Executive Director Food brings us together. |