• 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 to more than 1,500 lower income and homeless people in Cambridge and Somerville and recycled or reused over 180,000 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.

March 23 is the big day -- please celebrate with us by donating clothing or making a financial contribution so that we can help even more people in need in our sixth year. Details »

Celebrate Earth Day, tax day and the arrival of spring by donating clothing, shoes and accessories to The NonProfit Center's public clothing drive. South Station area, April 13 to 30, 2010. Details and directions soon.
Can't wait? Please visit one of our drop-off locations »

What better way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day than organizing a clothing drive to benefit Second Chances? Interested? »

Read our newsletters from January (NEW!), December, November, October and September. Contact Second Chances to receive our newsletters directly.

Babson College - F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business - 91 pounds
Bow Street Yoga - 151 pounds
City Year Young Heroes - 147 pounds
Community Charter School of Cambridge - 1,033 pounds and $232 »
CR Bard - 443 pounds »
Delta Phi Epsilon - Northeastern University Chapter - 141 pounds
East Boston High School Key Club - 242 pounds
FitzShawGa at Boston College - 53 pounds
Mike Giso, family, friends and neighbors - 101 pounds
Goody Clancy - 331 pounds »
Harvard University Graduate Commons - 3,471 pounds this year »
Interaction Associates - 33 pounds
Jones Lang LaSalle, Cambridge - 923 pounds (spring 2009), 838 pounds (winter 2009) »
MIT StuffFest 2009 - 3,783 pounds »
Medfield Brownie Troop #4880 - 969 pounds »
The NonProfit Center, Boston - 431 pounds in April, 720 pounds in November/December »
Sigma Delta Tau - Northeastern University Chapter - 137 pounds »
Somerville Climate Action's Living Green Festival - 409 pounds
Somerville Community Growing Center (spring 2009) - 836 pounds »
Somerville Community Growing Center (fall 2009) - 723 pounds »
Triumvirate Environmental - 4,335 pounds since 2005, including 750 pounds in 2009
Virgin HealthMiles - 112 pounds in 2009 and 111 pounds in 2010
Waltham Fields Community Farm - 510 pounds »
Wonder Bar Fashion Show & Clothing Drive - 60 pounds of clothing and $398 - what a fun event!

In order to expand our program, we need local businesses and organizations to host our clothing donation bins, especially in and around Somerville and Cambridge. Details »

Donate clothing »

More about our accomplishments »