Evan Reeks
VFR: Evan, tell us about yourself, your culinary journey as a chef, and how this path led you to the work that you do today.
Evan Reeks: When I was 11 years old, I started my very first job at a frozen pizza joint located in the back of a grocery store in Letellier, Manitoba. This was a fun cash job that launched a love for food preparation and service. Over the next 17 years, I had the opportunity to work with amazing chefs, industry professionals, and inspiring owners and operators.
When COVID-19 hit the stage, my wife, Mackenzie, and I had the chance to use leftover food from Granville Street bars and restaurants to make meals. We delivered these meals to 50 families for two months during the pandemic.
When the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) came into effect, we shifted our focus to the Downtown Eastside (DTES), which led to the creation of The Heart Tattoo Society. Meeting Roman Ansari, also a Managing Director of The Heart Tattoo Society, was instrumental in establishing the organization’s nonprofit status.
Today, we have the fortune to work alongside many great chef partners, such as Matt and Draven. We also have the pleasure of working with our many wonderful staff and a roster of almost 90 volunteers.
Over the last three years, we have had the opportunity to grow alongside and be supported by organizations such as Overdose Prevention Society, Watari, SRO- Collaborative, Aboriginal Front Door Society, and Smoke Signals. All of which, including our organization, The Heart Tattoo Society, are a part of the DTES Food Sovereignty Hub. Through these collaborations, we have been able to rescue almost half a million pounds of food and serve over 135,000 meals to the folks living in the DTES.
VFR: You're a firm believer in the power of wholesome, nutritious food – that a healthy, tasty meal can change your outlook on your day-to-day life. Please share more about this philosophy and how you have seen it in action through your work each day.
ER: We have always had the ideology that a meal is a union of love and respect, a relational process. Sharing a meal is something that might be lacking in our day-to-day lives and having the opportunity to create an environment where mutual respect is number one is so important.
Food isn't just sustenance; food is based in emotion and culture, but some individuals don't get to experience this. A healthy, tasty, and made-with-love meal has the ability to nourish the mind and soul. When your diet consists primarily of sugars and carbs, it throws your entire body out of equilibrium.
After some conversations with nutritionists, I find a good and simple way of incorporating healthy food into each day is to "ensure you eat every colour of the rainbow.”
All of our food operations fall into this mentality and push this ideology:
Use a wide array of vegetables and fruits, both fresh and cooked
Cook with assorted spices (which have amazing anti-inflammatory properties and can benefit heart and brain health)
Meats cooked to order
Fresh salads with homemade dressings
Juices that provide important electrolytes
VFR: VFR volunteers regularly drop off food donations at the DTES Food Sovereignty Hub. Tell us about how the Hub got started, what issues it aims to address, and its current program.
ER: The Food Sovereignty Hub (FSH) originally started as the DTES Distribution Hub. The Hub started a COVID-19 Disaster Response, which focused mainly on PPE and harm reduction supplies. As COVID subsided, masks and sanitizers shifted away from people’s daily needs, and the food aspect started to take hold.
The FSH currently houses four organizations, but it assists 60 partner organizations. The FSH receives and distributes 80,000 pounds of food monthly, produces grocery hampers for 315 households weekly, and aids the whole network in producing 62,500 meals each month.
VFR: In the DTES neighbourhood, what are some of the key challenges and barriers you have seen when it comes to food security and food sovereignty for residents living in this community? And to address these issues, where do you think we, as a city, can focus our efforts?
ER: I would say when it comes to food security within the DTES, it falls into three main categories: affordability, access, and equipment.
The price of food has skyrocketed over the last few years (which is no secret), and access to healthy food is just no longer affordable – and it hasn't been for a very long time! As I write this Q&A, the cost of cauliflower is sitting at eight dollars per head at our local store. This humble vegetable used to sit at around a buck or two dollars.
Accessibility to food is another big issue. With people’s options being either higher priced food chains, corner stores, or the dollar store, your options for groceries become very limited. To pick up a few items from these downtown grocery stores can cost 50 dollars, and it doesn't leave a lot of room for all the other expenses one may have.
Cooking equipment is another issue. Even if you have access to food and all the groceries you need, how do you cook it? With much of the low-income housing in Vancouver, you are limited to a hot plate, mini fridge, and maybe a microwave. For some, producing a home-cooked meal is out of the realm of possibilities with these limited kitchen options.
As a city, we can do many things, but to not go on a ramble, we, as individuals, can do one big thing: support local! Supporting local business keeps money in the community and helps to improve affordability and access for everyone.
VFR: How can people support the critical work of the DTES Food Sovereignty Hub?
ER: Well, sadly, we have to leave our current space in March 2023, as it is slated to follow the pre-COVID development plan. So, we are actively seeking a new, small receiving and distribution store front within the DTES. Rental and leasing opportunities are much needed, and very soon.
Otherwise, people are always encouraged and invited to donate either their time, expertise, or products to the Food Sovereignty Hub. In addition, Nesters or Save On gift cards go a long way with helping short-term food security.
Do you normally shop at a regular grocery store? Ask them if they would be willing to donate their overstock of products to this cause. And, of course, financial donations are always received with the utmost gratitude.
There are many ways anyone can contribute, financially or not. All ways of giving towards this cause start with your community and the relationships you have built and forged. Never hesitate to reach out, the DTES Food Sovereignty Hub will invite you in with open arms.
Key Organizations Involved in the DTES Food Sovereignty Hub:
The Heart Tattoo Society
Overdose Prevention Society
Watari (Counselling & Support Services Society)
DTES SRO-Collective
Aboriginal Front Door Society
Smoke Signals
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