After nearly two decades leading grocery stores, Matt found a new purpose at Harvest on Main—where community matters as much as what’s on the shelves.
Finding a Right Livelihood
When Matt Jackowiak talks about his new role as Market Manager at Harvest on Main, he doesn’t start by talking about groceries.
He talks about purpose.
Before joining Harvest on Main in June, Matt spent 17 years leading Whole Foods Market stores in the Chicago area. After retiring in 2022, he and his wife relocated to Pittsburgh, where her family has deep roots in Sharpsburg.
Matt wasn’t simply looking for another job—he was looking for what he calls right livelihood.
“I believe in earning a living by helping others—doing what’s right,” he says. “That I can apply my years of experience and knowledge to a market that’s so needed is incredible and brings me endless gratitude.”
While he picked up a few jobs after retirement, none felt like the right fit.
Then Harvest on Main came along.
Recognizing Something Special
Years before Matt joined the team, he had already noticed that Second Harvest was doing something different.
“When we moved here, people told us we had to check out (Second Harvest’s) Community Thrift Store,” he recalls.
With decades of retail experience, he immediately noticed something many shoppers might overlook—not what was inside the store, but what was outside.
The bike racks. The charging tables. The planter boxes. The welcoming outdoor gathering space.
“I thought, ‘Whoever built this space really cares about people.'”
That first impression told him everything he needed to know about the organization behind it.
Today, as Market Manager at Harvest on Main, Matt oversees the day-to-day operations of the market, helping ensure the shelves stay stocked, the volunteers are supported, and every customer has a welcoming experience. But ask him what excites him most about the role, and he’ll tell you it isn’t inventory or ordering systems.
It’s the people.
More Than Groceries
“These are hard times right now for a lot of people,” Matt says. “People are seeing each other as separate from each other.”
He believes a community market can help change that.
“One of the best things we do as a community market is bring that vitamin—or nutrient—of community to people. We’re selling all sorts of wonderful things you can buy, but what you really find is community.”
Every day brings new conversations.
Because his wife’s family has lived in Sharpsburg for generations, many of those conversations feel surprisingly personal. Customers tell him stories about growing up with his father-in-law, or about his wife’s grandmother’s famous cooking – aromas drifting from her open windows through the neighborhood.
Those conversations have helped Matt feel connected to the place he now calls home.
“I feel a little less homesick when I hear stories like that. I love this town.”
Other moments are quieter.
To Matt, those interactions are every bit as important as the groceries they’re buying.
People share struggles. They ask for prayers. They linger to talk.
Building Something That Lasts
As Harvest on Main continues to grow, Matt’s focus isn’t just on what happens today.
He’s thinking about the future.
Success, he says, means putting the cornerstones in place to build a strong, sustainable market that serves the community for years to come.
That includes streamlining operations, continuing to strengthen the volunteer program, and finding new ways to serve customers—including exploring expanded sandwich station hours.
He speaks especially highly of the volunteers who help make Harvest on Main possible.
“A solid volunteer staff is why we can work the magic we do.”
And if you’re wondering what you should pick up during your next visit?
Matt doesn’t hesitate.
“Any of the entrées cooked by Chef Blakely. Her cooking is exceptional. She puts so much heart and energy into the food she makes. People would be so happy and delighted to try any of her entrées.”
A Place to Belong
Ask Matt what he hopes people feel when they walk through Harvest on Main’s doors, and his answer has nothing to do with shopping.
He hopes they feel like they belong.
Whether someone comes in for a can of soup, a made-to-order sandwich, fresh produce, or simply a friendly conversation, he wants every visitor to experience the same thing he noticed the very first time he encountered Second Harvest:
A place built by people who genuinely care about other people.
He came to Harvest on Main looking for a right livelihood. What he found was a community—and every day, he gets to be part of what makes it stronger.
“One of the best things we do as a community market is bring that vitamin—or nutrient—of community to people. We’re selling all sorts of wonderful things you can buy, but what you really find is community.”
– Matt Jackowiak
