On December 8, 2022, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) hosted its 12th Annual
Hamper Drive event in partnership with Quest Outreach Society, preparing 1264 hampers for families in time for the holiday season.
The hampers, which include meal essentials and festive favourites, were created by travellers,
employees, and the airport community at the first ever YVR Quest Pop-Up Market. With the rising cost of food and supply chain challenges, Quest secured more than 1,200 turkeys from a local producer as well as other holiday items to fill the hampers in advance and stock the shelves at the pop-up market to simplify the program and ensure complete meals could be delivered to families in need across the Lower Mainland.
According to Lamb, “the last few years have been a roller coaster when it comes to the cost of
food. This year has been extra challenging for something like turkeys, given the impact of avian
flu across North America, the rising cost of feed which is a direct impact of the War in Ukraine, as well as cost increases that make raising poultry more expensive than before, due to inflation. For example, the cost of turkeys has increased by 251 per cent since 2020, when we were last able to distribute them.”
The 1264 hampers that were prepared at YVR this year will help ensure approximately over 7,500 British Columbians are able to sit down for a complete meal this holiday season. As a part of the program, YVR also facilitates the distribution of these hampers.
“Serving our community is at the core of what we do, and YVR is proud to once again partner with
Quest Outreach Society to help ensure families are able to enjoy a complete meal and celebrate
the holiday season together,” said Tamara Vrooman, President & CEO at Vancouver Airport
Authority. “A big thank you to our employees, partners and airport community for your generosity with shopping our Pop-Up Market and preparing 1264 hampers for B.C. families.”
Thanks to produce partner, BC Fresh, recipients of this year’s hampers will also receive fresh
potatoes, beets, onions and carrots to go along with their locally sourced turkey. Not to mention fresh oranges and other pantry items expected on a holiday table including cranberry sauce, stuffing as well as pre- and post-dinner treats.
Together with Quest, YVR has donated more than 8,000 hampers since the start of the Hamper
Drive program in 2011.
