Second Chances, Inc.

November is Homelessness Awareness Month, an experience too many of our neighbors face year-round. Did you know that Greater Boston has an estimated 801 unhoused people per 100,000 residents? Read more insights from Boston Indicators' August 2024 report: https://lnkd.in/eCvPVeeg Second Chances is proud to partner with 25+ local homeless shelters and service providers, providing free, empowering clothing to folks supported by CASPAR Shelters/Bay Cove Human Services, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge Housing Authority, On The Rise, RESPOND, Inc., Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services, Somerville Homeless Coalition, #SomervilleHousingAuthority, Transition House, Inc. (Cambridge, MA), Vinfen, and others. Our partners are making a tremendous difference in the lives of so many experiencing poverty, crisis, and housing instability.   Together, we are helping community members like Alex feel confident and valued as they take their first steps toward brighter futures! If you haven’t already, please consider making a tax-deductible donation before the end of the year: https://lnkd.in/eizVZjSE. Thank you for your compassion and generosity! #secondchances #clothingdonation #clothinginsecurity #housinginsecurity #homelessness

Second Chances’ 2024 Community Report is here! This year has reaffirmed Second Chances’ mission and highlighted the positive changes our neighbors are making. Thanks to generous contributions of clothing, funding, and volunteer time, we have helped more than 442 neighbors take their first steps toward brighter futures. Together with our compassionate community, we are providing a safety net for folks who are navigating difficult transitions. Read our 2024 Community Report to see what we’ve been up to and what’s in store as Second Chances approaches its 20th anniversary: https://lnkd.in/eGG3p2NM #secondchances #clothingdonation #cambridgema #somervillema #communityreport

Our staff had the opportunity to catch up with Michelle at Cambridge Women's Center, one of our fantastic nonprofit partners. CWC is the oldest continuously operating community center for women in the United States, offering a safe space for learning, emotional support, and empowerment through self-determination for women and those who identify as women free of charge. Second Chances is proud to provide empowering clothing and accessories for CWC’s clients and we are so thankful for the compassion and care CWC offers women in our community! #secondchances #cambridgewomenscenter #clothingdonation #cambridgema #communitypartner

On this Make a Difference Day, we want to share our heartfelt thanks to our amazing clothing drive partners for their generosity and compassion for our neighbors. Our work is not possible without partners who further Second Chances’ mission! Since January, our clothing drive partners have collected more than 25,000 pounds of clothing through public and private drives. Special thanks to these terrific companies and organizations for supporting folks in our community: Abcam Arrowstreet Inc. Benchling Berkshire Bank Biogen The Bookcase Factory Outlet Bosley Medical Brickbottom Artists Buffalo Exchange Brookline Center Communities of Brookline - Hebrew SeniorLife Clippership Apartments on the Wharf Coldwell Banker Realty Datadog Boston Deloitte Devonshire Residences Eastern Cannabis Company Elements Massage® EY-Parthenon F.L. Caulfield & Sons, Inc. Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Gibson Sotheby's International Realty Greentown Labs Hillman Homes MA Holiday Inn Boston Bunker Hill Area Hult International Business School Lutron Electronics Mudflat Studio Naveo Credit Union - Cambridge & Somerville Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated One First Condominium Rockland Trust - Davis Square & Union Square Steve McKenna and The Home Advantage Team The Goods The Metlo Boston Apartments WCTV: Wilmington Community Television Together, we’re making a difference in the lives of folks in our community! #secondchances #clothingdonation #cambridgema #somervillema #communitypartners #makeadifference

Items we have the greatest difficulty getting for clients include men’s clothing of all types, larger sizes of women’s clothing, and shoes in good condition for both men and women. Our clients need clothing for all kinds of activities including work, casual and dressy events, sports, and more. With the colder months approaching, there is a particular need for winter boots, coats, fleece jackets, gloves, hats, and scarves. If you are decluttering your closets this fall, please consider donating any winter items you may no longer need to benefit folks in our community. Your donation is most likely to go to a client if it is something you would proudly give to a friend or relative. Good donations are new or gently used, in complete working condition (with no missing buttons, broken zippers, and without tears, stains, or visible wear or damage). Donations should be free from strong odors like perfume, smoke, mothballs, or mustiness, and never wet. For additional information on what and how to donate, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/e5XfMzTP #secondchances #clothingdonation #clothingdrive #cambridgema #somervillema

On The Rise offers safety, community, and advocacy for homeless and formerly-homeless women and transgender/non-binary individuals. Based out of a warm and welcoming Victorian home in Cambridge, On The Rise's Safe Haven provides a place for participants to shower, nap, enjoy lunch, access clothing and toiletries, receive mail, use a computer, all while cultivating long-term relationships that foster safety and belonging and increase wellbeing. Since 2005, Second Chances has provided clothing and accessories to supplement On The Rise's beautiful clothing room. Organizations with limited space have difficulty storing enough clothing for the change of seasons, so we're often asked to supplement high-need items when winter arrives and everyone needs a winter coat, boots, and sweaters at once. Betsy had the pleasure of touring On The Rise's Safe Haven and clothing room earlier this fall. We're grateful for our longstanding partnership with On The Rise and inspired by the work they're doing in our shared community! #secondchances #ontherise #clothingdonation #cambridgema #communitypartner Andrea Kalsow, Maya Talwar-Hebert

This summer, Second Chances celebrated National Underwear Day on August 5th to highlight our commitment to delivering free, much-needed clothing - including new undergarments - to the homeless and low-income clients of 25+ local organizations.   In late-August, we learned that Bombas planned to double its underwear and undershirt donation to Second Chances this fall, allowing us to offer the dignity and comfort of new undergarments to even more people in need in our community.   Deepening our relationship every year since 2017, Bombas has made it possible to distribute more than 14,000 pairs of new socks and undergarments to folks in our community. We're grateful to Bombas for empowering our neighbors! #secondchances #bombas #clothingdonation #clothinginsecurity #giveback

We were grateful to celebrate with colleagues at On The Rise's Prepare for Winter Dinner last month. Second Chances has provided clothing for On The Rise participants for more than 19 years. We cherish our partnership and are so inspired by the difference they’re making in the lives of our neighbors! Photo, from left to right: Daniele Levine - Executive Director, Community Cooks Marsha - Volunteer, Community Cooks Kathy L. Dalton - Manager for Membership and Engagement, Cambridge Nonprofit Coalition Andrea Shapiro - CEO, Second Chances #secondchances #ontherise #clothingdonation #cambridgema #communitypartner

It’s Get Organized Week, the perfect time to declutter spaces you’ve been putting off cleaning. Let this week (and the change of seasons) motivate you to make room for the new and give unwanted items a second life! 👕 Second Chances accepts all types of clothing, accessories, and shoes for people of all ages and genders. As the colder months approach, our clients need winter coats, fleece jackets, boots, gloves, and hats (and we gladly accept items for all seasons!). Before putting together your bag of clothing to donate, visit our website to learn more about what we accept and where to donate: https://lnkd.in/e5XfMzTP Happy organizing! #secondchances #clothingdonation #getorganized #homeorganization #closetorganization

Thank you to our friends at Hillman Homes MA for collecting 1,238 pounds of clothing and accessories from colleagues, clients, and neighbors through their recent drive! We are so grateful to Hillman Homes for their continued partnership and to all those who contributed. Your generosity ensures that our neighbors have access to free clothing, shoes, and accessories. Thank you! Learn more about hosting a clothing drive at your church, workplace, large residential building, or organization at: www.secondchances.org/host #secondchances #hillmanhomes #clothingdrive #clothingdonation