Events & News

What’s happening at Second Chances?

Upcoming Events

Earth Day is April 22

Help our neighbors and our planet by donating wearable items you no longer need at one of our public clothing drives or donation bins.

Past Events

It was wonderful to reconnect and celebrate our community in May at Warehouse XI in Union Square, Somerville.

Thank you to everyone who made our once-in-seven-years event a huge success!

News

Join Our Team!

We’re hiring a Program & Operations Manager (part-time).

Second Chances 2023 Impact Report

2023 Impact
Report

Learn more about the impact we’ve had together.

Fall 2023 Community Report

Download our latest Community Report.

E-newsletter

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It’s Our 19th Anniversary!

On March 23rd, Second Chances celebrates its 19th anniversary. As this milestone approaches, we’re reflecting on our journey and continued mission of providing neighbors in need with empowering clothing so they and their families can access better housing, employment opportunities, healthcare, and more.

Second Chances was founded in 2005, when our founder noticed how local organizations serving homeless and low-income neighbors struggled to get clothing in the types, sizes, and seasons to support their clients, even though our generous community donated clothing on a regular basis.

Andrea knew there had to be a better way to match the generous donations from our community with neighbors who needed clothing. Working with three nonprofit partners, Second Chances delivered clothing to about 50 people that first year. Today, together with our community and 25+ provider partners, we’ve supported more than 6,200 neighbors with free clothing, shoes, and accessories; distributed more than 12,000 pairs of new socks and underwear; and reused and recycled 2,850,000 pounds of clothing and textiles.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our incredible community – none of this would be possible without each of you! THANK YOU for your generosity, compassion for our neighbors, and for sharing what you no longer need to benefit others.

2024 Clothing Drive Results

  • Benchling – 91 pounds
  • The Bookcase Factory Outlet – 811 pounds
  • Brickbottom Artists Building – 151 pounds so far!
  • Devonshire Residences – 1,845 pounds
  • Eastern Cannabis Company – thank you!
  • Elements Massage – 277 pounds
  • F. L. Caulfield & Sons – 410 pounds
  • Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty – 1,553 pounds
  • The Goods – 30+ bags of winter accessories!
  • Goody Clancy – 84 pounds
  • Hebrew Senior Life – Center Communities of Brookline – 959 pounds
  • Hillman Homes – 1,081 pounds
  • The Metlo Boston Apartments – 1,692 pounds
  • Mudflat Studio – 1,364 pounds
  • One First Condominium – 779 pounds
  • Omega Psi Phi – 584 pounds
  • Securitas – 532 pounds

  • American Medical Student Association (AMSA) at Northeastern University – thank you!
  • AVA North Point – 866 pounds
  • The Batch Yard and Bozzuto Management Company – 736 pounds
  • Benchling – 111 pounds
  • Bergmeyer – 318 pounds
  • Berkshire Bank – 397 pounds
  • Biogen – 508 poounds
  • Brickbottom Artists Building – 2,007 pounds so far!
  • Cambridge Matignon School – 505 pounds
  • Cardinal Health Women’s Impact Network – thank you!
  • Center Communities of Brookline Hebrew Senior Life – 864 pounds
  • Clarion Healthcare – 183 pounds
  • Clippership Apartments on the Wharf – 1,769 pounds
  • Coldwell Banker Realty – 773 pounds
  • Deloitte – 289 pounds
  • Elements Massage – 286 pounds
  • EY – Parthenon – 533 pounds
  • Flagship Pioneering – 20 bags!
  • Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty – 2,194 pounds
  • Greentown Labs – 437 pounds in March and more in December – thank you!
  • Harvard Business School Vounteer Corps Club – thank you!
  • Hillman Homes – 929 pounds
  • Hilton Boston Faneuil Hall – 306 pounds
  • Hult International Business School – 841 pounds so far!
  • Junior League of Boston – 319 pounds
  • Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity at Northeastern University – 92 pounds
  • Kimpton Marlowe Hotel – 104 pounds
  • Longfellow Real Estate Partners – 260 pounds
  • Microsoft – 464 pounds
  • Naveo Credit Union – 523 pounds
  • NERA and Homeport Stays – results soon!
  • NEPC, LLC – 103 pounds
  • Omega Psi Phi – 513 pounds
  • Omega Therapeutics – 553 pounds
  • One First Condominium – 794 pounds
  • PUMA North America – 685 pounds
  • Rockland Trust – 1,576 pounds
  • Signature Flight Support, Boston – 224 pounds
  • Steve McKenna and the Home Advantage Team – 1,703 pounds in the spring and 1,287 in the fall
  • Subaru New England / Snowbound Expo – 95 pounds
  • Temple Isaiah, Lexington – 953 pounds
  • Venture Forward Partners – thank you!
  • The Viridian and the Abbey Group – 61 pounds
  • Wellesley Hills Congregational Church – 2,028 pounds
  • YWCA Cambridge Renae’s Place – 148 pounds

News archives

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March, February, January

Late November, November, October, September, Late August, August, June, May, April, Late March, March

2023 Impact Report (pdf) »

2022 Impact Report (pdf) »

Fall 2023 (pdf), Fall 2022 (pdf), Fall 2021 (pdf), Fall 2020 (pdf), Fall 2019 (pdf), Summer/Fall 2017 (pdf), Spring 2016 (pdf), Fall 2014 (pdf), and Spring 2012 (pdf). Special thanks to our volunteers: Jill Davidson (writing and editing 2017), Mary Todd (graphic design 2016 and 2014), Fiona Crimmins (writing 2016, editing 2016 and 2014), and Jackie Cefola (graphic design 2012).

Other coverage:

Our founder and CEO was interviewed by the Somerville Wire in May 2022. Read more »

It was fun to talk about recycling and reusing clothing and textiles on The Wardrobe Muse podcast with Lisa Ann Schraffa Santin of LASS Wardrobe. Listen here »

Our 2020 COVID-19 emergency response grant from Tufts University was featured in The Somerville Times »

What a surprise to be included in Rockland Trust’s 2018 Annual Report! That’s our CEO, Andrea, receiving a grant check from JJ, the Davis Square Branch Manager. Photo on page 7 »

It was an honor to be featured in Tufts Now in November 2018 during the kick off for Tufts University’s employee charitable giving appeal.

Thanks to the Boston Globe for including us in a discussion of curbside textile recycling and its impact on local clothing donation programs in September 2018 »

Second Chances was included among some other terrific organizations in this Boston Mom’s Guide blog post in September 2018 »

Many thanks to our wonderful community partners at Somerville Homeless Coalition for featuring our collaboration to provide free clothing to their homeless and very low-income clients in their fall 2016 newsletter! Read more on page 2 »

Congratulations to Scout Somerville on publishing its 40th issue in July/August 2016! Thank you for featuring our founder and CEO among 40 local leaders who are shaping Somerville’s future. Read more on their page 45 »

Thanks to Boston Mamas for including us in a terrific January 2015 blog post about helping kids and families in need in our community! There’s some great information and wonderful organizations here »

Our Founder and CEO, Andrea Shapiro, was featured in Smith College’s Winter 2010-11 Alumnae Quarterly. Read more here »

Donation Bin Hosts Wanted

Want to host one of our clothing donation bins at your location? We are looking for locations for donation bins in Somerville, Cambridge, and communities bordering Somerville and Cambridge.

Seeking Clothing Drive Hosts

We’re deeply grateful to our generous clothing drive hosts below. Want to host a clothing drive?