Lift Urban Portland (Lift UP)

Mission

Our mission is to reduce hunger by providing reliable nutritious food for neighbors in Northwest and Downtown Portland.

Bottom Line for Portland

Donating to Lift UP ensures access to healthy, nutritious food for our neighbors in Portland.

This fall, changes to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits are already taking effect, reducing the amount of food that more than 300,000 Oregonians can afford.

Families, older adults, and individuals across every county are feeling the impact. At the same time, cuts to USDA programs like the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program have sharply reduced the supply of fresh food flowing into Oregon’s emergency food network, impacting nearly 20% of our fresh food supply.

This dual blow underscores a critical truth: the safety nets families rely on are fraying, and local community systems like Lift UP must step in to fill the gap.

Last year, Lift UP distributed 905,892 pounds of food — a 10% increase over the previous year.

• 5,875 Delivered Food Boxes were distributed in low-income housing communities — 44% were dietary specific (i.e., tailored to diets for diabetic, gluten-free, high blood pressure, soft food, low sodium, Kosher, etc.).

• 115,635 pounds of food were stocked in our on-site and pop-up pantries housed in affordable housing communities.

•15,995 duplicated individuals were served by Preston’s Pantry — with 50% of all food distributed being fresh produce.

•90% of clients surveyed say their health improved after receiving food from Lift UP.

Your donation today helps ensure that everyone — especially seniors, people with disabilities, and families on fixed incomes — can continue to access the healthy food they need to thrive.

Quote

“With all the big changes happening in government right now, we’ve been put against the wall—every day we have fewer and fewer benefits,” shared one Lift UP client in a recent survey. “Your service has been lifesaving. It’s like being in the middle of the ocean and someone throws you a lifesaver.” 

Incentives

Our partners at Pizza Thief are offering a free slice of pizza to thank you for supporting food security. This gift is available for all donations over $35. 

The first 4 people who donate $50 or more will receive $25 gift card to Veggie Grill. 

Partner(s)

Pizza Thief is a pizzeria and bar in Northwest Portland’s Slabtown.  A spin on a NY style pie, they serve 18” pizzas and large slices, their dough is naturally leavened with a precise combination of sourdough and whole grains with high hydration that makes for an excellent texture, crumb, and flavor.  All of our ingredients come from locally sourced farms, markets and mills here in the Northwest.

Veggie Grill specializes in a full vegan menu, serving up bold and flavorful burgers, sandwiches, bowls, salads, wraps, and more — all framed around fresh, organic ingredients and wholesome preparation.