Upstream Public Health was a Leftbank pioneer. They were here in the early days, before we had heat and maybe before the bathrooms were finished. (You’d have to ask them. I’m a little hazy on the earliest days at this point, so much has happened in two years!) They leased the suite that had been my first Leftbank office. Gorgeous suite, and I hadn’t even finished unpacking my desk…  It was hard to let go of that lovely spot. However, I couldn’t hold a grudge once I got to know them and their work. They’ve since joined forces with APANO and several other community focused non-profit groups and moved into a much bigger suite where they can work together and share resources.

I was delighted this week to find Upstream on this list of grant recipients. According to the release, Kaiser awarded grants to groups that “enhance the social factors that promote health and eliminate the factors that contribute to health disparities.”

Also this week, I came across the announcement of this dinner that is a fundraising event for my favorite Upstream project: Farm to School.

Way to go, Upstream! I’m cheering for you.

The vision for Leftbank is one of neighbors working together to further everyone’s impact. A lovely instance of exactly that has come together this month. First, Sockeye coordinated a donation drive for Oregon Food Bank. They brought barrels into the lobby and their own suite, and invited Leftbankers to join them in the effort to feed hungry Oregonians this season.

Upon seeing the barrels, Upstream Public Health started a conversation about how to expand participation and increase what we give as a community. Hoping to inform and inspire, Upstream put together the info below. They’re also working to secure donations from vendors, and hoping to fire up a little friendly competition in the building.

Leftbank Holiday Food Drive

Help us fill two barrels with food for Oregon’s hungry.

If every organization in the Leftbank building contributes 15 pounds of food - we can fill both of those huge barrels. That’s roughly just 15 cans per office!

Every month in Oregon, 240,000 people turn to emergency food boxes for meals. Of those, 33% are children. You can help make sure that all Oregonians have access to healthy meals this winter. Please bring in non-perishable foods between now and January 1st and drop them in one of the two barrels located in the Leftbank building. This Thursday’s happy hour would be a great time to get started filling those barrels, so bring some cans in with your holiday cheer!

Food donated during food drives like this one is some of the most nutritious food that the Food Bank receives. Here is a list of most needed foods:

• Canned meats (ie: tuna, chicken and salmon)
• Canned and boxed meals (ie: soup, chili, macaroni and cheese)
• Peanut butter
• Canned or dried beans and peas
• Pasta, rice and cereal
• Canned fruits

For more information about the Oregon Food Bank or to make a monetary donation, click here.

Join the staff and board of Upstream Public Health for a wonderful evening of fine northwest cuisine designed by Navarre owner and chef John Taboada at his new event space, Luce with a beer and wine pairing featuring Lemelson Vineyards’ wines and beer from all our favorite - Upright Brewing.

Purchase your ticket soon - quantities are limited

When: Friday, October 29th, cocktail hour at 6:30, dinner at 7:15

Where: Luce Event Space, 2140 E Burnside,  Portland

Cost: $100 per dinner ticket (includes open bar)

Why support farm to school?

More than half of Oregon school children rely everyday on school meals. Almost half, go to children from low-income households. Oregon is one of a few states in the country that does not provide any funding to school meals, and we want to change that.

A farm to school bill in Oregon would increase the number of fruits and vegetables per meal by one serving, while giving a boost to Oregon’s agricultural economy and lowering our carbon footprint by buying local. The proceeds of this fundraiser will go to fund direct advocacy for a 2011 Oregon Farm to School Bill. Let’s make 2011 the year of healthy school meals that make kids thrive!

The Auction

After dinner the excitement of the evening will commence with a live auction. A handful of wonderful vacations and experiences will be available for bidding including a 2-week stay in France, a weekend in Joseph and a weekend at the Oregon Coast. Please take a minute to check out the range of options ahead of time so you’ll be poised to take home the one you want!

The Sponsors

Carmen Ranch
Lemelson Wines
Luce
Leaping Lamb Farms
Upright Brewing
Vacasa Rentals
Writer’s Dojo
School of Budo
Mellie Pullman
Ethan and Elizabeth Levi

A portion of your dinner ticket is tax-deductible. Every dollar donated will go directly toward funding Upstream’s farm to school advocacy efforts to ensure that every child in Oregon has a healthy school meal. Learn more about Oregon’s farm to school efforts and Upstream Public Health at our website.

On their website, Leftbank’s own Upstream Public Health says that public health policies account for 80% of the 30-year gain in life span Americans experienced in the last century.

So, working tirelessly to support public policy that benefits all of us, Upstream recently won the Shovel-Ready Policy Contest held by the Bus Project. It was their advocacy to increase funding for the Farm to Schools Program that won dollars and volunteer hours from the Bus Project team.

To kick off the collaboration, Upstream is hosting a Brewhaha! on Tuesday, June 8th. Presentations followed by open discussion will get the ball rolling. The topic is “Pizza for Breakfast: How do Portland Public School Lunches Snack Up?” Details below:

BREWHAHA: Democracy & Drinks

Pizza For Breakfast: How PDX school lunches snack up

When: Tuesday, June 8th 7 PM

Where: Backspace, 115 NW 5th Ave, Portland, OR

Who: Everyone! All Ages! Free!

Sponsors: Bus Project, Portland Mercury, Bridgetown Printing Company

Upstream Public Health is a non-profit organization that promotes the health of all Oregonians by advocating for bold, innovative policies that will create communities where people can thrive. At Upstream, we look at the sources of today’s major health problems; identify creative, evidenced-based policy solutions that will address those root causes; and campaign to make them law by educating policy makers and the media about how our solutions will make people live longer and reduce future health care costs.

LEARN MORE HERE!

a sweet spot, home to Upstream Public Health.

in their words:

Upstream Public Health is a non-profit organization that promotes the health of all Oregonians by advocating for bold, innovative policies that will create communities where people can thrive. At Upstream, we look at the sources of today’s major health problems; identify creative, evidenced-based policy solutions that will address those root causes; and campaign to make them law by educating policy makers and the media about how our solutions will make people live longer and reduce future health care costs.