Meet John Sackreiter: Director of Information and Technology at Second Harvest

Technology might not be the first thing you picture when you think about a food bank, but at Second Harvest, it’s woven into almost every step of our mission. From keeping trucks moving on schedule to protecting donor data to making sure staff can work efficiently day to day, technology helps make nutritional security possible at scale.

That work is led by John Sackreiter, Second Harvest’s Director of Information and Technology. John joined the organization just over a year ago after spending more than a decade in the hospitality world, a change he describes as both meaningful and grounding.

What’s your role at Second Harvest, and how long have you been with SHFB?

I am the Director of Information and Technology at Second Harvest, and I’ve been with the Food Bank for just over a year.

Before joining Second Harvest, I spent more than 14 years working in the hospitality industry, primarily in fine dining and restaurant operations. While the work was fast-paced and rewarding in its own way, I reached a point where I wanted to make a shift.

When I came across the opportunity to work at Second Harvest, I took time to research the organization. I watched videos, explored the organization’s social media channels and tried to better understand the mission. Despite living less than two miles away, I realized how little I knew about the scope of the work being done here.

What truly stood out was hearing CEO Claudia Bonilla Keller speak about the reality of food insecurity in Orange County. She mentioned that living in a county like Orange County, as financially strong as it is, and being food insecure is especially cruel. That thought resonated deeply with me. That moment of understanding solidified my decision to apply and ultimately make the transition to Second Harvest.

What’s something people might not know about your job or about Second Harvest?

I think many people are surprised by how deeply technology is integrated into every part of the Food Bank’s operations.

There’s often a perception of what a food bank looks like, but behind the scenes, technology supports nearly everything we do, from routing delivery trucks and managing logistics to enabling staff communication, data reporting and protecting donor information.

Technology also plays a major role in ensuring business continuity. We think through scenarios like internet outages, system failures or cybersecurity threats and make sure we can continue operating without disruption should any of those scenarios occur. People rely on us, and having the right technology in place helps ensure we can consistently deliver on our mission.

What is the most valuable piece of advice that you’ve learned?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned, especially working in IT, is that you’re never done learning.

Technology is constantly changing, and you can’t get too comfortable with what you already know. The landscape looks very different today than it did even 10 years ago, and that means adapting, staying curious and being willing to evolve. Embracing that mindset has helped me grow and stay engaged in my work.

What does “feeding OC” mean to you?

From a professional standpoint, feeding OC means supporting the people who are on the front lines of the mission. IT is very much a service role, and my job is to help teams across the organization do their work efficiently, reliably and effectively.

From a personal perspective, feeding OC is about recognizing that food insecurity affects people across all demographics. There is often a stigma around what food insecurity looks like, and I appreciate that Second Harvest serves a wide range of communities – seniors, children, college students and families throughout Orange County.

Having grown up in central and southern Missouri, food insecurity was more visible to me early on. Being part of Second Harvest has opened my eyes to how present these issues are here as well, even if they are easier to overlook.

What do you love most about working at Second Harvest?

The people and the culture stand out immediately. I’ve never felt more welcomed, heard or respected in a workplace.

What has been your favorite memory from working at Second Harvest?
One of my favorite experiences was the onboarding process and having the chance to see the mission in action so early on, from the Distribution Center to the farms to delivery routes. Those experiences helped me understand how all the pieces fit together and reinforced the importance of the work we do every day.
I’ve also been struck by how many people in the community have volunteered with Second Harvest. Wearing Second Harvest gear in public and having people stop to share their positive experiences reinforces the impact this organization has, and the strong connection people feel to the mission.

How can the community support Second Harvest?
Community support is essential to our work. Raising awareness, whether it’s by talking about food insecurity, sharing information about Second Harvest or helping others understand the scope of the need in Orange County, is a powerful way to help.
Financial contributions also make a significant impact and help ensure the organization can operate at scale while protecting the integrity and security of its systems and operations.
Supporting Second Harvest ultimately means supporting the people and infrastructure that make nutritional security possible throughout the county.

What part of your role as Director of Information and Technology is the most rewarding?
The most rewarding part of my role is helping others succeed.
Knowing that the systems and tools my team supports allow staff across the organization to do their jobs better – and ultimately serve the community more effectively – is incredibly meaningful. Every improvement we make connects back to the mission and helps Second Harvest continue to show up for Orange County.

What’s one thing you hope people better understand about your role or about the IT Department at Second Harvest?
I hope people understand that technology is not separate from the mission; it’s a critical part of it.
From protecting donor trust to keeping operations running smoothly, IT supports every department and helps ensure Second Harvest can continue delivering food reliably and responsibly. Our goal is to make sure the organization is prepared, secure and able to serve the community without interruption.