Welcome Diane!
Our newest Board Member
Please join us in welcoming Diane Gocha to the Second Chance Foods Board.
Diane’s life plan was to be a successful business person. So the idea of nonprofits did not even cross her mind. However, when Diane was working in Public Accounting, most of her audit clients ended up being nonprofit organizations, eventually leading to her working for a nonprofit and volunteering on our board! For instance, Diane and her husband helped start Little Souls Children’s Center in Waltham, MA; she worked as an accountant, handled all human resources for the Mid Hudson Children’s Museum in Poughkeepsie, and consulted for Common Ground Farm in Fishkill. Most recently, she was the Director of Finance and Human Resources at Boscobel House & Gardens before leaving to start her own business – SweetFrog Frozen Yogurt in Poughkeepsie!
In addition to her professional background, Diane brings a personal understanding lens to our work, having grown up poor and struggling to get food, clothing, etc. She had no idea about the resources provided by nonprofits but now finds that the work she does to serve others is the source of most of her joy (along with her family, of course).
"I love the work of Second Chance Foods because it does the very important work of addressing and satisfying some of the very basic needs in life: Hunger and Dignity, and it is offered with Love."
- Diane
More About Diane
I love the work of Second Chance Foods because it does the very important work of addressing and satisfying some of the very basic needs in life: Hunger and Dignity, and it is offered with Love. Second Chance Foods wisely and responsibly makes use of otherwise underutilized resources to meet those needs. I can personally relate to both sides of their work through my own life experiences. Everyone involved seems to give everything they can and, in return, expect only to be able to meet these needs to the highest degree possible.
I grew up in Cortlandt Manor in Westchester County and moved to Dutchess County in 1993. My husband and I have been married 32 years, and we have 5 children, two still living at home. We love to travel and do quick weekend vacations because we work very hard operating our separate businesses most days of the year, though we have always set Sunday aside for God and family.
My degree is in Business Administration and Accounting, and I have worked for various nonprofits throughout my career until November 2021.
I love the sunshine and spending time outdoors. Some might call me very active! I walk 5 miles every day and now also bike ride most days, I hike, have been on many extreme roller coasters and zip lines and will soon go skydiving.
I have to say my favorite vegetable is Potatoes; I love the many ways they can be prepared. But, I also love greens; my favorites are Broccoli, Green Beans, and Salads.
Chocolate, Myrtle Beach, Budgeting, or Family