Meet Jane Van Dyke: Second Harvest’s Director of Human Resources is Retiring

I am the Director of Human Resources (HR), and I have been here for about 16 and a half years.

When I first started, my role looked very different. Back then, Second Harvest was still part of Society of St. Vincent de Paul. I did a little bit of everything including grant writing, accounting, HR support and a lot of executive support for the director of St. Vincent de Paul at the time. From there, I moved into the manager of HR role and then eventually that became the director of HR.

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

Many people don’t realize the complexity and the sophistication of a food bank like ours, including the processes, programs and the strategic planning that happens behind the scenes to fulfill our mission at this level of need. People often see it as a source of food for our pantries and don’t realize the scope and breadth of what we do, and the many programs and ways of distribution we offer.

While news and social media are highlighting food insecurity more and more, many people are surprised to learn that food insecurity in Orange County has not improved since COVID. I think there were expectations that since the COVID pandemic is over, the need has probably settled or gone down or gone backward, but it hasn’t.

Regarding my position, I think people don’t realize the broad scope of responsibilities that are involved in my role, including retirement plans, hiring, employee management relations, employee engagement and the legal aspects. People sometimes think HR is just hiring, firing, payroll and benefits, but there’s a lot more to it.

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

One piece of advice is this idea that our CEO, Claudia Bonilla Keller, often reminds us of (and I’m paraphrasing her): We do serious work here for our community. But we also need to remember that we’re human and not take ourselves too seriously, so we can still have some fun at work.

A second piece of advice is that it’s okay to tell people you don’t have time at the moment and see if you can make an appointment to meet with them later. That was a big learning for me early on in my career in HR because I probably have one of the most open-door, most unplanned-meeting roles in the organization. I always felt like I had to say, “Oh sure, come in,” but sometimes that doesn’t work best for our employees or myself.

What does Feeding OC mean to you?

To feed OC, we need to have an understanding and be informed about food insecurity needs and gaps in Orange County. As the specialists in our industry, we have to know those things behind the scenes. Feeding OC is meeting that need through our mission and providing dignified, equitable and consistent access to nutritious food.

In a nutshell, to me feeding Orange County means that people can access food and know where their next meal (or some of it) is coming from.

What do you love most about working at Second Harvest?

It’s going to sound a little cliché, but it’s the people. It’s the people I work with and have worked with over all the years. In a nonprofit, people care that the work is making a difference and having an impact on others. When we ask employees why they stay at the Food Bank, this sentiment is a big part of it.

In my job, I love the variety of what I do, my team and the fact that HR has a place at the executive table. Our team is our key resource to fulfill our mission. Without a good team and culture, that would be a lot harder to do.

What does nutritional security mean to you?

Nutritional security means that individuals have access to the variety of food they need. It’s not just about quantity. It’s about having access to healthy, quality and safe food. It means people not only know how to access food, but they can also get the right kinds of food with variety.

What has been your favorite memory from working at Second Harvest?

There are two kinds of memories.

The first are the happy emotional stories I’ve witnessed, heard or seen in videos from our partners. What especially sticks out in my mind are the tears of happiness, the look in the eye or the face of a mom, dad or kid, the relief and appreciation of having food available for free, and the wide variety and fresh produce.

The second type is the fun part, like the engaging, staff-related events I’ve helped start over my time here including our annual Staff Day with different themes and activities, the employee appreciation barbecue and our annual holiday party. Additionally, I love being able to walk through the building and hear laughter in the hallways or out in the Distribution Center. It reminds me that we’ve got something good going here.

Also, since 2014 or 2015, I’ve done a tradition at the all-staff holiday party with a red robe, rocking chair and a fake fireplace, where I read a version of the “‘T’was the Night Before Christmas” poem tailored to the year at Second Harvest. The staff look forward to the tradition and ask me every year if I’m going to do it again. It’s been fun and it’s become an annual tradition.

How can the community support Second Harvest?

There are so many different ways the community can support Second Harvest and I think that it starts with understanding who we are.

Look at our website, learn more about what we do and take a tour. It’s the time, talent and treasure. Money can do a lot more at the scale we need. Sharing awareness helps, too. Every small ripple helps. You could be the person who needs our support one day even if you don’t need it right now.

You’ll be retiring at the end of December. Looking back on your time at Second Harvest, what part of your work or leadership are you most proud of?

I think I’ve done my best to listen to people, to be approachable and to protect that fine line of supporting employees and the organization at the same time. In HR, you have to protect employees’ rights, but you also have to support the organization, and that’s a tough line to walk.

I hope people would say I led with care, kindness and with fun in mind. I’ve taken time and interest in getting to know the staff and their lives and families as much as possible. It’s gotten harder as we’ve grown, because my team is sometimes more involved in that than I am day to day.

How would you describe the work culture you’ve helped build at Second Harvest, and what do you hope continues to thrive after you retire?

I believe our culture is very inclusive and that we provide a sense of belonging. It starts with onboarding and orientation, and with frontline supervisors, managers and the leadership team. “People first” is one of our values, and we put our team’s health, mental wellness and family needs first. I believe we practice that.

I may be biased, but I believe we have a great culture here. It’s purposely done. It’s not by accident. Our team cares about it.