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 2,400 lower income and homeless people in Cambridge and Somerville and recycled or reused over 490,000 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.

Thank you!

May is always a big month for us, with people moving, students leaving town, and spring closet cleaning shifting into high gear. This May you donated 66% more clothing than our highest month ever! Second Chances received more than 20,000 pounds of donated clothing, shoes and accessories through our donation bins and clothing drives in May. That's a lot of recycling and reuse, and the clothing you donated will help lots of people in need in our community. Thank you!

Spring Clothing Changeover Tips from a Pro

Thanks to our partner, Sarah Buckwalter of Organizing Boston, for sharing her expert advice on transitioning your closets from winter to spring, and more. Download the full article here »

2013 clothing drive results

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

• Experian - 304 pounds
• Harvard University Graduate Commons - 1,107 pounds
• Harvard Business School - 394 pounds
• Jones Lang LaSalle & One Rogers Street tenants - 244 pounds
• Millennium - Cambridge - 1,625 pounds »
• The NonProfit Center - Boston - 1,219 pounds »
• Oberbrunner family - 287 pounds »
• Showa Boston - 4,262 pounds
• Triumvirate Environmental - 668 pounds »
• West End Apartments - 6,067 pounds »
• WGBH CLX - 358 pounds »

In the news

You can get our April, March and January 2013 e-newsletters online now. And, sign up here to receive occasional e-newsletters and event invitations in your inbox.

We're so grateful for coverage by Kara Baskin in her Boston.com blog during the 2012 holiday giving season! Read about Second Chances and some other great local nonprofits here »

Get our Spring 2012 Community Report online (pdf) now! It takes a little while to download, but it's worth the wait. Special thanks to long-time friend and supporter, Jackie Cefola, for volunteering her graphic design skills to produce this!

Our 2012 e-newsletters are archived here: early December, Mid-November, November, September, late-August, June, Earth Day 2012 and March 2012.

Donate clothing »
More about our accomplishments »