Dear friend,
“We have been put against the wall and cornered because every day we have less and less benefits. With your service it has been lifesaving… it is like when you are in the middle of the ocean, and someone is throwing you a lifesaver.”
— Lift UP Delivered Groceries Client
Like many of you, we exhaled when SNAP benefits were finally issued a couple of weeks ago and the government reopened. That moment mattered—for families budgeting down to the dollar, for seniors deciding between food and medicine, and for everyone who relies on this essential support.
But after the relief comes the harder truth:
This was never just a delay. It was a warning.
As highlighted in recent national reporting, our country's food-assistance infrastructure is showing deep cracks––cracks that have been widening for years:
Federal nutrition programs are increasingly vulnerable to shutdowns and political gridlock.
Food security nonprofits nationwide are scrambling to keep up, navigating constant changes while trying to understand what the new normal will be.
Government systems that millions rely on each month are not built for resilience, and they are not "coming back" in the ways we once assumed.
The disruptions we experienced this fall weren't an anomaly.
They were a warning.
What This Means for Portland and for Lift UP
Even before the SNAP freeze, community need was staggering:
Lift UP's food distribution has grown more than 60% over the last three years.
The passage of H.R.1 (the "Big Beautiful Bill) has led to reduced or disrupted SNAP benefits for nearly 300,000 Oregonians, including many older adults and people with disabilities.
The USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation freeze resulted in nearly 20% cut, removing thousands of pounds of healthy, locally grown food from our system.
Grocery prices have risen more than 25% since 2020, stretching families and food security organizations like ours to their limits.
Federal systems will continue shifting. Budgets will continue tightening. But neighbors still need to eat.
That's where community steps in.
That's where you stepped in.
What Now? What Next?
The answer to broken systems isn't despair—it's connection, care, and community-led solutions that outlast federal fluctuations.
At Lift UP, we're doubling down on the work that holds people steady when national systems don't:
Delivered food boxes for older adults and neighbors with mobility challenges and special dietary needs
Preston's Pantry, a choice-first pantry in Northwest Portland abundant with the nutritious produce our neighbors desire and deserve
Supper Club, building community through shared cooking and culture
Food Hub distribution to our mutual-aid partners across the city
The Root Partner community, whose monthly support keeps shelves stocked even when federal programs fall short
These programs don't collapse during shutdowns. They don't freeze when budgets shift. They are powered by you and that is what makes them resilient. You made what sometimes feels like an abstract of idea of "community-led solutions" real and tangible.
Over the past few weeks, we witnessed extraordinary acts of care:
Businesses, schools, and faith partners hosted food drives that filled our shelves when supply was uncertain.
Donors made gifts—large and small—that helped offset fresh food cuts and rising costs.
Volunteers raised their hands to pack boxes, staff the pantry, glean produce, and support neighbors during one of the hardest months of the year.
Your response has been deeply heartening.
You reminded us that when systems break, community holds firm.
Thank you for being that steady presence.
Thank you for caring enough to act.
How You Can Help Sustain This Momentum
1. Become a Root Partner (Monthly Donor)
Monthly support is the most reliable way to keep food flowing—through shutdowns, supply shortages, and federal delays.
2. Support our Give!Guide Campaign and you'll be entered to win some fun, meaningful incentives as a thank-you.
Pantry shifts, food-box packing, and community distributions all need hands this winter.
Your gift today directly offsets the 20% cut in USDA-funded fresh food.
6. Host a Food Drive
Schools, offices, companies, friend groups—your collective action makes a tangible impact.
Email CaSaundra Johnson at casaundra@lifturbanportland.org to get your drive started.
We'll Keep Showing Up—Together
As federal systems continue to shift, we will continue to nourish, support, and advocate.
And we'll keep you informed every step of the way.
Thank you for being the part of the system that does work—community.
With Gratitude,
Stephanie Barr, Executive Director
Food brings us together.
