Stephanie Barr, Lift Urban Portland

Stephanie is the Executive Director of Lift Up, helping to facilitate all the amazing work they do. With deep experience working in Northwest nonprofits since 2002, and an intimate understanding of food through her own celiac diagnosis, she helps Lift Up bring healthy and delicious food to the Portland community. Lift Up, or Lift Urban Portland, has been providing fresh and healthy food and connection for 41 years. They help community members get in touch with important social services resources, provide nutritious food boxes, offer essentials in a grocery-store-like setting that maintains agency through free shopping, and much more.

"Many people think of food security organizations as just meeting an immediate need. But food plays a big role in our lives – it supports our health, it’s how we connect with others, it’s how we celebrate, and it’s deeply cultural. Having that need consistently met enables the people we serve to focus on other aspects of their lives. We also hear story after story about how the food we provide changes the way our clients eat, which in turn improves their long-term health outcomes."

- Stephanie Barr