Dear friend,
As the last days of summer come upon us, I find myself slowing down to savor all the tastes of the season. Sweet juicy tomatoes, berries and cherries, ripe peaches and nectarines, and the fresh summer corn that is showing up later than usual this year. (Make sure to check out our summer corn recipe at the end of today's newsletter.)
We take great pride at Lift UP in offering the abundance of summer harvest to our neighbors at Preston's Pantry, in our Delivered Food Boxes, and at our Free Food Market. Recently, I received an email from a client commending Lift UP on the quality and variety of food offered in her Delivered Food Box.
"Your box is truly one of the best boxes out there,”said Mary. Your variety of fresh produce and quality of food is superb.”Mary, a local social service agency caseworker, signed up to get a box after knee surgery. She is grateful for the food Lift UP provides as it helps to make her food budget stretch while she is out of work recovering.“I'm older now, so I am not sure when and if I will be able to go back to work,” Mary says.“With food prices up and my employment uncertain, it feels good to know that I don't have to compromise on having healthy food.”
September is Hunger Action Month! We hope you will join us to help increase food security for neighbors like Mary in your community. You can:
• Join Oregon Food Bank and help to put Hunger on the Ballot on November 8th this year. Sign the pledge and watch Oregon Food Bank CEO Susannah Morgan's State of Hunger Address here.
• Volunteer with us. We couldn't provide our services without our faithful community of volunteers. There are many opportunities to donate time, from prepping and delivering food boxes to making cards for our clients. Check out our opportunities here.
•Donate to our Making Connections Virtual Event and/or enter for a chance to win any one of our unique packages. Raffle tickets are $25 apiece. Each ticket purchased equals 75 meals for neighbors like Mary. Enter for your chance to win here.
As we turn the corner into Fall, we hope you continue to carry the mantle of food justice with you into your networks. Together we can be the change that we want to see.
In the meantime, let's continue to soak up every last bit of our summer! This No-Brainer Corn Salad by bon appètit is a favorite of Lift UP Executive Director Stephanie Barr and will help you do just that. Get the recipe here. I hope you enjoy!
Come Celebrate with Us!
You are invited to join us for Making Connections 2022! This year's free, virtual event will share stories of resilience and highlight the positive effects of reliable access to fresh, nutritious food on our neighbors.
Making Connections 2022
September 22, 2022
5:30 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER for the event and to receive updates, including information about our exciting raffle packages
Gratefully yours,
CaSaundra Johnson, Development Manager
P.S. Lift UP is hiring a part-time Administrative Assistant. Learn more here and share this opportunity with others who share your commitment to feeding our community. Thank you!
Food brings us together.
