editor's note

Hi suma friends,

Set an alarm: tomorrow, Wednesday, December 3rd at 2pm our Holiday Special opens!
​Reach out to info@mysuma.org if you’d like to volunteer at our pick-up locations on December 23rd to assist us in distributing meals.​
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Just as the farmers market season ended, we’re getting right into our annual Holiday Special. We’re welcoming two incredible new team members and introducing new projects.

Thanks for keeping up!

-Jacqueline

holiday special

Holiday Special

Set an alarm: tomorrow, Wednesday, December 3rd at 2pm!​
We’re kicking off the fourth year of suma’s Holiday Special! Each year we partner with local businesses to offer meals that feed 4-6 for just $10!
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This year, suma is expanding our reach: increasing our usual 100 meals to just under 200 meals, so more families can enjoy a holiday meal at an affordable price.

Our 2025 vendor line up features a mix of culturally specific and dietary conscious flavors:

• Sheridan Fruit Co. – turkey and ham dinner options
• Black Girl Veggies – a fully vegan and gluten-free meal
• Tienda Doña Maria – culturally specific ingredients for families to cook holiday dishes
• La Casa de Mamá – a sweet holiday packet of vegan pan dulce, empanadas and tamales
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This year, we welcome La Casa de Mamá as a new vendor on the suma app. We were introduced to them at Pitch Latino and knew they would be a great addition to our Holiday Special. They are a Latina owned, & family-operated Mexican panadería offering delicious vegan pastries in Portland, Oregon.

Suma users can purchase a La Casa de Mamá sweet packet alongside their holiday meal, or as a standalone treat. To learn more and discover their next pop-up, visit their website!

For questions about our Holiday Special, visit our Holiday Special FAQ page.

Want to get involved? We’re looking for volunteers to work with us at our three community pick-up locations on December 23rd. Please reach out to info@mysuma.org for more details if you’re interested in volunteering this holiday season. Cheers!
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Gift Card Pilot launch

The suma team has pushed forward the launch of our Gift Card Pilot. While originally planned for January 2026, we moved it up to address the increased demand for food resources caused by the federal government's SNAP decisions.

The pilot will roll out alongside our 2025 Holiday Special. Suma users will be able to purchase a $10 family holiday meal or purchase a $100 gift card from WinCo, Fred Meyer or Safeway for $50.
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We’ll continue offering gift cards in 2026. This pilot will support our work to recruit major food retailers to the suma platform in the future.

what's new
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The suma team is growing!

Crystal Rimorin - Enterprise Project Manager

Crystal (she/her) joined our team in early November, bringing experience in operations and project management across tech startups and health organizations. Her role will focus on coordinating complex, cross-functional projects, aligning timelines and deliverables with organizational and grant goals; and strengthening our project management systems and community-centered user testing. In her free time, Crystal likes to spend her time at flea markets and estate sales picking vintage clothes, furniture, and Americana. Her favorite rainy day song is Gymnopédie No.1 by Erik Satie.
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Jen Schlegel - Accommodation Project Manager​
Jen (she/her) joined our team in early November and is a passionate contributor within the accessibility community. She brings both lived and professional experience from her startup, Beenabled—work that spans smart mobility solutions to emergency communication tools. In her role at suma, Jen will lead the planning, execution, and community engagement for our accommodation initiatives. Outside of work, Jen loves whiteboarding new ideas and exploring the world through all kinds of adventures. Her favorite rainy-day song is Hoppípolla by Sigur Rós.

the suma app: built with you in mind

Accommodation Work

The accommodation small group is kicking off a renewed monthly cadence to support ongoing collaboration and alignment. Jen is reviewing this year’s work, including user interviews and 1:1 conversations with partners such as Community Vision, The Uprise Collective, and Upstream Access. In addition, planning has begun for the 2026 roadmap, which includes a series of accessibility improvements aimed at enhancing the experience for all suma users.

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​APANO 82nd Solar

In September, we shared our first story about the APANO 82nd Solar project, a collaboration among APANO Communities United Fund, Bird Alliance of Oregon, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Humanus Labs and suma. Together, we’re bringing community solar and other clean energy assets into Portland’s JADE District. Through the suma platform, eligible JADE residents will find it easier to access the economic benefits of a community solar array that will be built on the Bird Alliance’s new 82nd Avenue facility.

We’re deep in planning mode right now as we think about how we will engage JADE District residents in 2026 to share information about the project, get community guidance on recruiting JADE District vendors to the suma platform, connect residents to the community solar array, and enroll them in suma.
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APANO and suma team members will be collecting community guidance when we host Holiday Special meal pickup at APANO on December 23rd.

The accommodation work and Solar Project has been made possible through funding entirely by the City of Portland, Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund.