History 

Lift Urban Portland was founded in 1980 as Northwest Portland Ministries, by a group of lay people from churches and synagogues in Northwest Portland. Their goal was to help neighborhood residents through coordinated volunteer efforts.

Initial activities included conducting food drives and distributing government food commodities, helping people connect with existing social services, and providing opportunities for neighborhood residents to socialize.

An early tradition, which started in 1985 and continues today, is the annual Christmas dinner. More than 150 congregational and community volunteers turn out to prepare and serve turkey dinners and provide fellowship and small gifts to about 500 people—both on-site at Congregation Beth Israel and via Meals on Wheels home delivery.

As volunteers became involved in the community, they saw the need to provide services unavailable through traditional sources. From 1988 to 2011, Lift Urban Portland provided transportation for elderly and disabled. The transportation program was phased out in 2011 as the organization’s mission evolved.

Lift Urban Portland entered a partnership with the Housing Authority of Portland (now Home Forward) to provide socialization and other services to residents of low-income apartment buildings through an “Adopt a High Rise” program. Volunteers from churches and synagogues provide community-building and enrichment activities, including social events and classes.

Lift Urban Portland also matches volunteers and residents for one-on-one assistance that helps elders and people with disabilities to live independently.

Since 2005, Lift Urban Portland has partnered with Loaves & Fishes and First Immanuel Lutheran Church to operate a weekday Senior Meal Site that serves hot lunches to 50 or more elders.

In December of 2007, Lift Urban Portland acquired a community emergency food pantry and—with the support of donors, the Oregon Food Bank, and local businesses—expanded the program to provide staples and fresh food in an environment that emulates a small grocery store. The food pantry serves 460 people each month with an additional 95 people receiving fresh produce monthly. We also deliver up to 100 food boxes a month to isolated and restricted neighbors. The boxes can be customized to accommodate diet or ethnicity.

In 2008, Lift Urban Portland established the Food for Kids Backpack Program, which provides weekend food for school children who live in shelters and depend on school lunches for nutrition. This program feeds 60 each weekend.