The Vancouver Foundation helps Quest Outreach Society put "Food First" with a $30,000 grant.

VANCOUVER - Jessie (not his real name) is an eleven-year-old boy attending a school in Vancouver's eastside. His teacher noticed that he seemed to be having troubles concentrating in class; she also noticed that he never had much food in his lunch bag. Realizing the correlation, and with further knowledge that Jessie doesn't often get breakfast, the teacher referred him to a breakfast and lunch program run by a group of students' mothers.

With food supplied by Quest Outreach, without judgment or conditions, this program is able to feed not only Jessie but also the children of over 50 families. The food helps make sure Jessie, and several of his classmates, get the proper amount of food they need to concentrate on their studies.

Today Jessie is at the head of his class; he breezes through his homework, and definitely seems to smile more. Putting food first, Quest is able to help 35,000 people (mostly children and families) per month get enough food before they tackle the challenges they face each and every day such as health and disability, economic hardship, education, alcohol & drug rehabilitation, and barriers to employment. Jessie's future looks a lot brighter because he now has a better chance of finishing school and becoming an active member of his community.

The Vancouver Foundation helps support one of the best-kept secrets in the non-profit sector.

Quest is pleased to announce the receipt of a $30,000 grant from the Vancouver Foundation. This grant will enable Quest to expand its capacity to meet demand. The funds will be used to purchase and install a commercial grade walk-in cooler and freezer, helping to extend the shelf life of perishable food donations, making even more fresh produce, eggs and dairy available to those in need.