Dear friend,
One afternoon, as Preston's Pantry was preparing to open, a woman stood quietly near the door uncertain of whether to enter. Her name was Donna*, and like many who come to the pantry, she was facing unexpected hardship.
Donna's journey is one of remarkable resilience. She began her career as a successful landscape architect and later transitioned into owning a cleaning company that employed nearly 50 people. After selling that business, she started her own mortgage company, employing dozens more. However, when the 2008 mortgage crisis hit, her business collapsed. Determined as ever, Donna launched a professional organizing company which thrived until the pandemic caused it to fold.
Like many of the seniors who make up nearly half of Lift UP's service base, Donna found herself facing a very different reality than the life she had built. Living on a fixed income, with rising costs and reduced pandemic-era SNAP benefits, she quickly realized her money didn't stretch far enough. Her savings were gone, her retirement plans shattered, and she began relying on credit cards to buy food. That's when a neighbor told her about Lift UP's Preston's Pantry.
Initially, Donna was hesitant to visit, worried that she might run into volunteers who were former clients from her organizing business. But after visiting another pantry that only offered dry, processed foods, she knew she needed something better to maintain her health. That's when she decided to set aside her hesitation and try out Preston's Pantry.
What she found was more than just food. She found fresh produce and wholesome ingredients that not only nourished her body but also helped her live a better quality of life. With the little extra room in her budget, she could make space for the activities that bring her joy and connect her to her neighbors. "Being able to shop at the pantry helps me treat myself like a queen," she shared. "It frees up money so I can do things like take a discounted art class or attend a local performance. Lift UP lets me live—really live—despite everything.” These experiences may be small to some, but they are what help keep Donna vibrant and connected to community, even in tough times.
Access to fresh, healthy food means that seniors like Donna can live independently longer, stay nourished, and stretch their limited income to cover other essentials like housing, utilities, and medical care. We envision a city where our seniors can live joyful, fulfilling lives, and never have to choose between buying groceries and paying rent. Relieved from the mental burden of food insecurity, our pantry shoppers and food box recipients have more space for the activities that bring them to life—spending time with loved ones, making art, and breaking bread with neighbors.
None of this would be possible without the generous support of donors like you, who plant the seeds of kindness that grow into flourishing gardens of community. Donna first visited Preston's Pantry in 2020, leaving with the nourishing groceries she needed to care for herself. Today, Donna shares the food she receives by cooking meals for her neighbors, continuing the ripple of kindness and support that started with you.
But there are many more people like Donna who need our help. Last year's SNAP benefit cuts paired with ever-higher food costs mean that for many senior Portlanders, a fixed income simply can't stretch far enough. For those like Donna, who now receives just $25 each month in SNAP, access to fresh, healthy food is a lifeline.
This holiday season, we have a collective goal to raise $43,000 to ensure seniors like Donna have access to fresh, nutritious food all year round.
Can we count you in to support seniors like Donna by donating to our Nourishing Seniors Campaign? Your contribution helps ensure that our older adults have access to the nutritious food they need all year long:
A gift of $100 will provide fresh food for 35 seniors at a pantry pop-up event.
A gift of $250 equals 200 meals for seniors, delivered right to their homes in nutritious food boxes.
With a $500 gift, you can stock Preston's Pantry with a week's worth of fresh produce, ensuring our seniors have access to the wholesome food they need.
A generous gift of $1,000 supports an on-site pantry for an affordable housing community for an entire half a year.
All gifts of $50 or more will get two slices of pizza from our food security partners at Pizza Thief.
With your help, Lift UP can continue to provide stability, health, and independence to Portland's senior community. Together, we can ensure Seniors have the food they need to thrive.
With Gratitude,
Stephanie Barr, Executive Director
Food brings us together.
