Dear friend,

Volunteers are the heart of Lift UP, and today our hearts are heavy. At any given time, we rely on more than 125 community volunteers each month to keep our programs running—delivering and packing groceries, rescuing food, setting up and distributing at Preston's Pantry, and providing leadership and service through our board. Quite simply, we could not do this work without our volunteers. They are truly an extension of our team and the heartbeat of Lift UP. 

Week after week, our volunteers become part of our community of care. They show up with generosity, compassion, and dedication that sustains both our programs and our spirits. 

It is with deep sadness that we share that two beloved members of the Lift UP community recently passed away. We want to take a moment to honor their lives and the light they brought to our work. 

Beth Kelly, Board Member of Lift UP

Beth Kelly  
Beth joined our board in 2023, bringing her expertise as a "scrappy public health nurse" (as she liked to be known) and her passion for ensuring that nutritious food is accessible to everyone. She played a key role in program evaluation that year and championed efforts to expand access to quality food for our neighbors. Beth stepped down after receiving a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, yet her commitment to service and her impact on Lift UP remain deeply felt. 

"Beth truly loved the community we served. She was deeply kind, but also a fierce advocate for the needs of our neighbors," said Stephanie Barr, Executive Director of Lift UP. "Her leadership will continue to inspire us." 

The Beth A. Kelly Memorial Scholarship has been established at the Clackamas Community College of Nursing.  

Barbara Fields, Lift UP Board Member, Volunteering at a Pop-up Pantry

Barbara Fields 
Barbara also joined the board in 2023, sharing her knowledge and lived experience as a disability rights attorney and advocate. Living with the effects of polio herself, she brought an invaluable lens of accessibility to our work and reminded us to center the voices of those most often left out. Beyond her board service, Barbara was a devoted Thursday volunteer at Preston's Pantry, where she helped ensure food made it into the hands of our neighbors each week. 

"Barbara's advocacy was grounded in compassion and action,” reflected Teresa Steichen, Programs Manager. "Barbara was such a steady and joyful presence at Preston's Pantry. Week after week, she gave her best to ensure our neighbors had the food they needed, always with kindness and care. She held herself to high standards in everything she did, and her absence will be deeply felt by our Thursday crew.” 

A memorial will be held at First Unitarian Church, where Barbara was an active member of the Social Action Committee, on Wednesday, September 24th at 6 pm. 

We are profoundly grateful to have known Beth and Barbara. Their dedication, kindness, and passion for justice enriched Lift UP in countless ways. May all who knew them find comfort in their memory, and may we continue to carry forward their spirit of service and love for community. 

With Gratitude,

Stephanie Barr, Executive Director

Food brings us together.