Hybrid or onsite, based in Portland, OR

Lift UP envisions a Portland where everyone has access to healthy food and opportunities to connect with others. To work towards this goal, we operate a shopping-style Pantry and provide on-site food security services, including food box deliveries, to residents of affordable housing buildings in Downtown and Northwest Portland. We also provide educational programs that teach cooking skills and build community to strengthen social connections. We serve more than 30,000 duplicated people every year. Lift UP believes all people deserve access to nutritious food and we promote equity in our food systems. We also recognize that food insecurity is a systemic problem and addressing roots causes of hunger is a critical component of effective service delivery.

Position Description

A Food Systems Intern at Lift UP will play a direct role in expanding our clients’ access to fresh produce and strengthening our partnerships with collaborators like Verdier Farm and the Portland Fruit Tree Project to increase local, sustainable food sources. This is a dynamic, hands-on role requiring moving, lifting, and some work outdoors to support our farm partners. The intern will collaborate closely with Lift UP’s Operations Manager to assist in the warehouse and gain firsthand experience of food rescue, allocation, and distribution processes. They may also participate in direct service shifts at our pantry and play a supporting role with our annual program evaluation, feasibility study and planning work to expand farm partnerships, and refining our food waste management systems.

Food systems sit at the intersection of many overlapping issues, including environmental justice, public health, housing, economics, urban planning, and community resilience. Equity is deeply embedded within the way we approach our work, and we recognize that the challenges currently facing our communities are rooted in long lineages of systemic harm. We encourage students from any major to apply so long as there is interest and values alignment.

Within the general scope of this position, Lift UP will engage in collaborative role development based on the student’s interests and professional development goals. Food brings us together. Some examples of tasks are described below: • Help to unload, sort, and restock donations gleaned or donated from local partners • Oversee and support volunteers as they prepare and deliver groceries to residents living in affordable housing, including managing group volunteer shifts • Staff shopping-style pop-up markets in affordable housing communities • Learn about food sourcing, ordering, and safe storage for distribution • Assist Operations Manager with managing inventory • Build connections with volunteers and community partners • Support data management and tracking • Assist with food gleaning and delivery as needed • Support outreach and relationship building with local farmers • Refine food waste reduction systems

READ FULL JOB DESCRIPTION