Dear friend,
Fear.
Usually in October, we get to choose it — a scary movie, a haunted house, a costume that makes us laugh afterward. But this year, the fear many Oregonians feel is very real, and it doesn't fade when the lights come back on.
More than 757,000 Oregonians — one in six people in our state — could lose their SNAP (food stamp) benefits in November if the federal government shutdown continues past October 31. That means 210,000 children and 130,000 seniors across Oregon could wake up next month without the food support they rely on.
On top of this, letters began going out this week notifying about changes to SNAP requirements for some of Oregon's most vulnerable, roughly 300,000 people, including adults ages 55–64 and refugee and immigrant households, making benefits more difficult to access. We're already fielding calls from neighbors who are afraid of what will happen after October 31, unsure how they'll find food once their benefits stop.
Governor Tina Kotek called it "a cruel and unacceptable situation.”
We couldn't agree more.
The Reality at Home
Here in Portland, the calls to Lift UP have been steady — and heavy. People are scared, and we understand why. During my time at Lift UP, we've weathered a lot -- COVID, funding cuts, food inflation, and record demand. This moment feels uncertain, like those challenges, but also uniquely different.
Just this summer, USDA freezes disrupted our fresh produce supply, forcing us to stretch every donation and every pound of food. Now, with these new SNAP changes landing in mailboxes and the shutdown lingering, we know the impacts could ripple far and fast.
Truthfully, we don't yet know exactly what will shake out, or how deeply it will affect our community, but we do know this: we want to be prepared, and what we need most right now is food.
At Preston's Pantry, we typically serve around 85 shoppers each day, and as many as 100 when demand is high and our resources can accommodate it. Our Delivered Groceries program — the lifeline for neighbors who can't leave home — has felt the strain most acutely. Still, thanks to our incredible team and community partners, we've managed to keep shelves full and meals nourishing.
But if the shutdown continues, that stability is at risk.
Preparing for What Comes Next
We're working through every possible scenario to ensure we can continue to meet neighbors with the abundance and dignity they deserve. That includes increasing hospitality volunteers at Preston's Pantry to help inform neighbors of alternative resources, (see volunteer request below) and expanding our Supper Club demos to teach practical, low-cost meal ideas like hearty soups and high-protein chickpea dishes.
As we look ahead, we find ourselves asking — what will it take to make it through this next stretch?
The answer is simple: it will take ALL OF US.
We're inviting those who already give, already volunteer, already care to see if they can lean in just a little more. Maybe it's giving a few extra dollars, a few more volunteer hours, or hosting a food drive at your workplace. Every small act strengthens the foundation beneath us all.
And for the neighbors we serve, those small steps make a life-changing difference:
“My heart failure makes it hard for me to get out to food banks like I used to. If it wasn't for Lift UP, I wouldn't be able to get the food I need to get through every month. I only make $200 more than my rent, and I spend more on food than I get in SNAP. Lift UP makes it possible for me to get by.”
— Delivered Grocery Recipient
“With your service, it's been lifesaving. It's like being in the middle of the ocean and someone throws you a life preserver.”
— Delivered Grocery Recipient
How You Can Help Right Now
Give what you can.
Whether it's $5 or $500, every gift fills a plate. Give here.
Become a Root Partner to provide steady, monthly support that keeps food flowing through uncertainty. Become a monthly partner here.
Host a Food & Fund Drive.
Gather your coworkers, congregation, or friends. This fall, we're focusing on our three“Root Items:" shelf-stable milk, nut butter, and canned soup. Email Development Manager, CaSaundra Johnson at casaundra@lifturbanportland.org to get started.
Volunteer.
We especially need:
Physically able volunteers to help with Saturday and Thursday morining food rescue and redistribution efforts.
Hospitality and intake volunteers at Preston's Pantry to welcome neighbors and keep our operations running smoothly.
To get involved, contact Volunteer Manager, Julie Ramos at lifturbanportland.org.
A Moment for Gratitude
In the middle of all this uncertainty, we're deeply grateful —
to our Grow to Donate partners who filled the fresh-produce gap this summer, to our the CAFE funder coalition partners (Zidell Family, Harbourton, and Marie Lamfrom Foundations) who bolstered our dry-goods supply, and to every Root Partner and volunteer who keeps showing up.
Together, we'll keep finding light in the dark, and food on every neighbor's plate.
Because fear may be the theme of October...
but community is the story of November.
With Gratitude,
Stephanie Barr, Executive Director
P.S. If you have neighbors or friends who want to stay informed about the latest SNAP updates and impacts, visit the Oregon Department of Human Services website and follow their social media channels for real-time information @ORHumanServices.
Food brings us together.
