Dear friend,

The long-awaited relaunch of Supper Club is finally here! This program has meant so much to many of the neighbors we serve. Supper Club, a multi-session cooking and nutrition series taught by me, is offered on-site in our Adopted Buildings and is one of Lift UP's most beloved programs.

Since joining the Lift UP team in November as Supper Club Coordinator, I have been working to build classes for our clients that accommodate a wide range of dietary restrictions and meet COVID safety precautions.

I consider it a blessing and honor to be part of its comeback. Last week I had the opportunity to host a meet and greet with the residents of Bud Clark Commons to reintroduce Supper Club to their community. Seeing people’s faces light up with hope and excitement shows how special Supper Club is to the people we serve. Bud Clark will have its first Supper Club Series in May, with other housing communities following soon.

The pandemic has increased social isolation for the residents at Bud Clark, says Jessica Karam, Resident Service Coordinator at Bud Clark. “The opportunity for residents to get together and share community around food is very important here.”

I couldn't be more excited about sharing my skills and providing the chance to socialize around food. As a bonus, residents will learn to prepare and cook nutritious meals.

As we relaunch Supper Club, our goal is to be able to offer this opportunity to more housing communities, and you can help! Would you consider becoming a monthly donor? For as little as $5 a month, you can become a Sustaining Member, and provide 180 meals for your neighbors through Supper Club and other programs such as Preston's Pantry. Join now!

My personal experience with my love of cooking started in my Dad’s kitchen with the donated food boxes from Oregon Food Bank. I would let my creativity run wild with the variety of food in the boxes. These experiences were the genesis of my connection to the culinary industry, in which I have six years of experience as a chef. I am looking forward to sharing my story with our neighbors around the table.  

We can always find peace and comfort sharing food no matter what hardships we face collectively. Every one of us has a story to tell. I believe that Supper Club can reinvigorate the sense of community and interconnectedness our neighbors need through sharing a meal with one another.  

That is the power of food. 

Food Brings Us Together.

Gratefully Yours,

Natasha Butcher-Cook
Supper Club Coordinator

Food brings us together.