Second Chances represents opportunity

• to provide homeless and lower income people with the clothing that will not only build their self-esteem, but could open the doors to a brighter future.


• for a second life for your gently used and new clothing, shoes and accessories, and a chance to conserve valuable natural resources instead of filling our area's already overflowing landfills.


• for all of us to feel the satisfaction that comes from helping our neighbors, connecting with local organizations, and preserving the environment.

Second Chances' mission is to provide clothing to people in need, inform supporters about issues affecting our community and help people connect with local organizations or issues that resonate with their values, skills and personal experiences.

Since 2005, Second Chances has provided free clothing, shoes, accessories and gift cards to more than 2,000 lower income and homeless people in Cambridge and Somerville and recycled or reused over 330,000 pounds of clothing, shoes and accessories. Through our clothing donation program, we are helping people in need in our community, conserving natural resources, and diverting waste from our area's already overflowing landfills. Working closely with our partners, we are involving the community in helping our neighbors, connecting with other community members and preserving the environment.

Events

We'll be hosting clothing drives at Somerville Community Growing Center on Wednesday, June 20th and Wednesday, September 19th, from 5 to 7 p.m. both evenings. Details soon! And meanwhile, please donate at our outdoor clothing donation bins or another clothing drive. Details »

We're planning something big for late-September - a clothing drive and paper shredding event. You'll be able to donate clothing and support our work by bringing those old tax returns and bank statements to be safely shredded while you watch. Details soon!

Volunteer with Second Chances

We've got in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities including: help publicize our events; take photos at our events; create a fillable Adobe Acrobat file from a Word file; lend a hand at our Growing Center clothing drives; coordinate a clothing drive at home, school, work, or in your community; help assemble a mailing; and so much more! Email info@secondchances.org and let us know what you're interested in doing.

Other news

Thank you to everyone who coordinated and participated in a clothing drive! We are grateful for your help and enthusiasm.

• Adnexus - 414 pounds »
• Alexandria Real Estate Equities & Technology Square tenants - 436 pounds »
• Bow Street Yoga - 189 pounds »
• ConvergEx / Eze Castle Software - 144 pounds
• Designers Circus customers - 190 pounds
• Ivy Street School, Brookline - 8 large bags
• Jones Lang LaSalle & One Rogers Street tenants - 303 pounds
• Jones Lang LaSalle & 260 Franklin Street tenants - 1,324 pounds »
• Jones Lang LaSalle & 99 High Street tenants - 192 pounds »
• Jones Lang LaSalle & Custom House Street tenants - 376 pounds »
• Logic PD - 10 bags
• The NonProfit Center tenants and friends - 805 pounds »
• The Vineyard Kids Church and congregation - 725 pounds so far, and more soon »

You can get our Earth Day 2012 and March 2012 e-newsletter online. And, sign up here to receive future e-newsletters and event invitations in your inbox.

Special thanks to our partners at omr architects for including information about Second Chances on their May 2012 calendar postcard. We are grateful for the opportunity to introduce ourselves to their customers, collaborators and friends.

We started 2012 with the great news that Second Chances was awarded a generous grant from Tufts University's Neighborhood Service Fund. Read more here »

Did you catch the November 2011 Somerville Patch article about Second Chances? It's here! »

2011 e-newsletter archives: December, Thanksgiving, November, October, Mid-September, September, Mid-June, Early June, Earth Day and March 2011.

Did you see us in Smith College's Alumnae Spotlight (Winter 2010 Alumnae Quarterly)?

Get our 2010 Community Report online (pdf) today! 2011 Community Report coming soon.

In order to sustain and expand our program, we need local businesses and organizations to host our outdoor clothing donation bins -- we especially need a location in or near Somerville.
Details »

Donate clothing »
More about our accomplishments »