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Quest Food Exchange is a not-for-profit food exchange program operating out of British Columbia, Canada. Quest began in 1989 as a small initiative to feed the underprivileged in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The program received positive public support from the community and eventually evolved into the current organization. Quest's main goal is to provide food aid in a manner that empowers people, a manner that differs from those social aid which addresses only hunger and not causes of those individuals not being able to feed themselves. By creating access to healthy food at a low cost, the organization renders that process of food aid as one that is self sufficient for individuals.

The organization is recognized by many to be Vancouver's largest not-for-profit food exchange program (YVR). Quest continues to operate due to a growing demand for healthy food access in Vancouver's Vancouver's Downtown Eastside where the highest rate of child poverty in Canada exists. Furthermore, the amount of surplus food produced in the city's food industry allows for Quest to carry the service they provide. Through donations, Quest feeds over 60,000 people a month with a small team of employees and a network of 2,000 volunteers, many of whom are from the Downtown Eastside community.

According to HungerCount 2011, roughly 90,000 people were assisted by food assistance agencies.

Food Insecurity in Vancouver's Lower Main Land
Vancouver's Lower Main Land has the second highest poverty rate in Canada. According the the Hunger Count report 2009, 8.8 percent of the population will experience food insecurity at some point during the year. Making matters worst, according to stats Canada, the increase in welfare caseloads for December 2009 in BC was 33.2%, the highest in the nation. It was estimated that an average low income family of four needs to double their income in order to survive. These estimates have already factored in the welfare that the government provides. Considering the problem of poverty in Vancouver, issues of food insecurity should not be trivialized.

Community Kitchens Training
Part of taking back control of our own lives through food involves us to learn effective ways to manage our nutrient consumption. To that, Quest hosts community kitchens training session which empowers and educate people to nourish themselves. These sessions provide training for those who may unfamiliar with the kitchen. The training session also creates a communal space to for the sharing of knowledge around food. Attendees learn how to plan menus, basic facts about nutrition, effective shopping practices and cooking techniques.

Not-for-profit Grocery Stores
The organization operates four non profit grocery stores that are only accessible to those with a referral from a social service agency. Upon becoming a member, an individual can buy food from Quest at reduced prices. The variety of food choices at Quest have limitations, but do resemble the choices provided at most conventional for profit grocery stores. Quest relies on the help of social services agencies to determine one's elegibility to their services.

Bulk Food Orders
Other than providing accessible health food to the low income population directly, the organization also provides a bulk food order service to community services and social service agencies. These agencies can order food from Quest to carry out their specific social programs and meet the specific food needs of those they are providing help to.

Community Training Kitchen
Lastly, Quest offers training sessions at their community kitchen for members. The purpose of these sessions is to teach meal planning, nutrition, shopping and cooking techniques which can help attendees become more food secured individuals.

Food Suppliers
The following are a list of suppliers that donate surplus food to Quest:


 * Bosa Foods
 * Boston Pizza
 * Cobs Breads
 * Continental Importers
 * Discovery Organics
 * Falesca Importing Ltd.
 * Fresh Direct Produce Ltd.
 * Happy Planet Foods
 * HMS Host (YVR)
 * Horizon Distributors
 * Hudson Group (YVR)
 * Meadow Fresh Dairy
 * Misty Mountain Industries Ltd.
 * Premium Brand Food Group
 * Que Pasa Mexican Foods
 * San Remo Food Importers
 * SPUD: Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery
 * The Original Cakerie
 * Uprising Breads Bakery
 * Whistler Water
 * Whole Foods Market
 * Wosk’s Coffee Service