Dear friend,
Supper Club Relaunches with Great Success
Supper Club is back! Lift UP’s healthy eating workshop series that focuses on essential culinary skills and community building between neighbors is one of Lift UP’s most popular programs. The first classes since the beginning of the pandemic were held in May at Bud Clark Commons. Some recipes made during this session were Veggie Loaded Chili with Cornbread and Chipotle Lime Cauliflower tacos. During the chili-making class, Natasha, Supper Club Coordinator, proudly boasted that “all the ingredients used in our demo today were sourced from Preston’s Pantry and could be found in a Delivered Food Box.” Natasha also gives residents helpful tips and insights to make the most of their resources and food, such as this Freezer Friendly guide. Download here.
Special thanks to many partners who have helped to make the relaunch of Supper Club possible: The Schwemm Family Foundation, Neighbors West Northwest, Office of Community and Civic Life, the Holzman Foundation, Firstenburg Foundation, Juan Young Trust, Zera Foundation, Zidell Family Foundation, Clark Family Foundation, and the Oregon Jewish Community Youth Foundation. Of course we would also like to express our tremendous thanks to all of our Adopt a Building partners for their ensuring nutritious food access for their Portland neighbors.
Celebrating Pride Month and Juneteenth
At Lift UP, we celebrate diversity in as many ways as possible. Because June is Pride Month, it is a great opportunity to get to know the nonprofit organizations that serve the LGBTQ+ communities. To learn more about how to support our LGBTQ+ neighbors, visit Basic Rights Oregon. Here you’ll find information about how you can help the LGBTQ+ community in Portland and beyond.
On Sunday, June 19th, Americans observed the nation’s youngest federal holiday-Juneteenth. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement.
As we recognize Juneteenth, we also realize that as with many other systems, food insecurity disproportionately affects communities of color. This is why Lift UP, alongside Oregon Food Bank, supports changes to our food systems to make them more equitable and accessible for all.
Learn more here.
Welcoming Bruce Smith to Lift UP Board
We are so excited to welcome Bruce Smith to our board of directors. Bruce, serves as the DEI Manager at Otak and is passionate about the mission of Lift UP.
“Lift UP is so fortunate to have Bruce Smith join our Board of Directors. He is warm and engaging, and asks thoughtful questions that help us delve deeper into our mission and vision. His experience serving our community, his passion for food security, and his skills advancing DEI are tremendous assets for Lift UP,” says Stephanie Barr, Executive Director for Lift UP.
Gratefully yours,
The Team at Lift UP
Food brings us together.
