September 14, 2023 – xwməθkwəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Unceded
Territories/Vancouver, B.C: Today, after a multi-year search for space, Quest Non-Profit Grocery Markets launched its brand-new 2000+ square foot market dedicated to serving Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
“We want our clients to walk into this new market and feel like they have the space and time to select the groceries they need and want” says Theodora Lamb, Executive Director at Quest. “Our new market will be a critical resource for DTES community members who are disproportionately impacted by the rise of food prices and food insecurity.”
For the past year, Quest had been operating a much smaller pop-up market out of a rental space that was less than 900 square feet. While the small space worked as a temporary solution, it didn’t allow the organization to carry as much fresh product as clients needed, requiring multiple deliveries to keep shelves full on most days.
This new market is the largest non-profit grocery space in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside complete with a walk-in cooler to help ensure DTES residents have access to fresh, healthy and affordable groceries.
According to Lamb “With the cost of groceries continuing to rise across BC, families, students, seniors, new immigrants and individuals facing economic barriers have fewer options of where to buy groceries they need and want at prices they can afford.”
Rick Lipus, a former Quest client who has worked with the organization for over 10 years, was recently promoted to the role of Market Manager at the DTES location. “I watch hundreds of people walk through our market doors every day, and I can see the difference shelves full of fresh food and vegetables can make. The fact that there is choice and the fact that it’s good and healthy choice makes a real difference” according to Lipus.
Quest serves over 15,000 unique clients living across Metro Vancouver. 4000 of those clients shop at Quest’s DTES Market location Monday through Saturday. The most popular grocery items at Quest’s DTES market include eggs, apples and oranges, potatoes, onions, bread, milk and chicken. Quest works with over 350 referring partners who direct individuals facing economic barriers to shop at Quest.
Quest has moved through the property search and launch in large part thanks to support from
the City of Vancouver and their new landlord, as well as Quest’s staff, volunteers and Board of
Directors who are all committed to a non-profit grocery space in Vancouver’s DTES.
For more information:
Theodora Lamb, Executive Director, Quest Outreach Society
[email protected], 778-773-3811
About Quest: Quest Outreach Society exists to disrupt cycles of food insecurity through access to healthy and affordable food. By bridging the gap between food banks and grocery stores, Quest provides a shopping experience for those in need based on principles of dignity, access and sustainability. Almost all of Quest’s food is donated by food partners from across British Columbia, redistributed to our Lower Mainland markets, and delivered at little cost to market clients. Quest operates five grocery markets across the Lower Mainland: Burnaby, Surrey, North Vancouver, East Vancouver, and the Downtown Eastside. For more information visit Questoutreach.org
