An aging tractor used to haul food stuffs out of the Second Harvest Food Bank’s distribution center in Manteca’s Industrial Park was replaced this week by the director of the 200-acre Safeway Distribution Center in Tracy.

With over 25 years in warehouse distribution experience, Jack Mixey took over the role as director of the facility in 2009. He also become involved with the food bank and joined its board of directors. The food bank serves San Joaquin, Stanislaus and adjoining counties in the Sierra foothills.

Mixey recognized the need for a newer tractor to be put in service at Second Harvest. He was instrumental in making it happen with a used vehicle that Safeway had as part of its fleet.

The two-million-square-foot facility in Tracy has been featured on the television show “Modern Marvels” being trumpeted as the largest Safeway distribution center in operation supporting 252 mainland stores in Northern California and nearly 20 stores in Hawaii.

Mike Mallory, CEO of Second Harvest, said he can’t say enough good things about Mixey for his support of the food bank located on Industrial Park Drive.

Mallory said with Safeway’s location in the Central Valley it was seen as important to Mixey to support charitable organizations whose missions meant the most to all of its employees.

“To meet this goal, the Safeway distribution center created a team, comprised of hourly and management employees called the Fund Raising Committee (FRC),” he said.  “The FRC team worked together to promote events, do fundraising and create awareness for selected organizations.”

The Second Harvest leader said that Mixey felt that the Safeway Tracy distribution center could have a greater impact on non-profits like Second Harvest beyond meeting the basic needs such as food.

“It is now the vision of this group to ensure that everyone understands that each person (among them) has a gift whether it is time, talent or treasure.  The partnership between Second Harvest Food Bank and the Tracy distribution center has developed into many avenues including food donations, volunteerism, the donation of the 2007 tractor trailer and a refurbished forklift,” Mallory said.

He added that Jack Mixey has gone above and beyond to meet the needs of the regional Manteca headquartered food bank as a member of its board of directors by sharing his time and talents.

Mallory said he is hoping that other corporations will see the impact that Safeway and Jack Mixey’s team has had and use it as a model to create an even larger outreach in the Central Valley communities.

“Together we have fostered a partnership that will surpass our expectations of meeting the increasing challenge of conquering food insecurity in our communities,” he said.  “We would like to personally thank each one of the 1,700 employees at the Safeway Tracy distribution center for joining us in our passion for those in need,” he said.