Dear friend,

As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday, we want to express our gratitude for all of the partners and supporters who have enabled Lift UP to keep up with the rising need for fresh, nutritious food. Thank you!

Since the pandemic began, supply chain disruptions and labor shortages have made food more difficult to source. Gleaning (rescuing food that would otherwise go to waste) has long been Lift UP’s primary way to supply food. Last year, for the first time, we purchased 11% of the food we distributed in order to feed our community.

To remain a resilient and reliable resource for our neighbors in need, Lift UP is expanding our focus on gleaning. A newly forged partnership with Trader Joe’s Southwest has increased the variety and abundance of produce available to Friday shoppers at Preston’s Pantry. Collaborations like these ensure that our Portland community will continue to have access to fresh and nutritious food for many months to come.

Thank you for being a vital part of the Lift UP community, and we wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday.

Lift UP New Staff!

Tom Bassford is the newest addition to our Glean Team! Tom has nine years of experience working in food insecurity, including aquaponic farming and urban farming. He spent three years launching then leading an agriculture education program for incarcerated individuals. As his current role as an Agriculturalist for Girl and Dug Farm in Canby comes to a seasonal close, he discovered Lift UP and enthusiastically applied. He is excited to transition from organic farming into a career that alleviates hunger more directly. He also loves driving a sprinter van, which he will get to enjoy in his new role as Lift UP’s Delivery and Gleaner staff.

Natasha Butcher-Cook has joined Lift UP as our new Supper Club Coordinator. Natasha has six years of experience in the culinary industry, working her way up from dishwasher to Line Cook at Nike Catering. Through her experience at Nike, Natasha became adept at accommodating a wide range of dietary restrictions, and training numerous line staff on proper food preparation techniques. Last year, she began a program at PSU to pursue a degree in Nonprofit Management with a vision to apply her passion for food to help others. Raised by a single dad who volunteered at the Oregon Food Bank to acquire extra food for his daughters, Natasha’s love of cooking was inspired by the need to be creative in the kitchen. Throughout the process, Natasha has referred to the Supper Club position as her “dream job.”

We’re thrilled to have Tom and Natasha on the Lift UP team!

Amazon Smile Wish List

Donate directly to Lift UP with your Amazon account! Purchases are made anonymously through Amazon and distributed directly to our community. We keep the list updated with our most wanted items. Connect your Amazon account with Amazon Smile and a portion of your purchase is donated back to Lift UP!

A Message from Oregon Food Bank

Right now thousands of Oregonians are stuck in limbo: the State has hundreds of millions of dollars to help renters remain in their homes, but payments aren’t reaching landlords fast enough. This has left thousands of Oregon renters at risk of eviction.

We are asking you today to please write to your elected officials and encourage them to support a special session to bring relief to these renters.

We need lawmakers to pass a law to protect renters who are waiting for their rent check to be cut. But they have to act fast.

Gratefully,

The Lift UP Team

Food brings us together.