Because, families that volunteer together...have a great time making a difference!
We’re so excited to introduce you to the dynamic duo, John and David!
John started volunteering with us in January of 2020. He found us after being let go from his long-time job of 34 years and “needed something to do.” We are so lucky his love of cooking brought him and David to us. Not only does John help cook and wash dishes, but most of the beautiful pictures of our food and volunteers working in the kitchen are all thanks to John!
Over the last two and a half years, John has joined us almost every Tuesday in the kitchen to cook and take pictures. He’s seen the Tuesday shift go from cooking for 80 people to over 260! Shortly after starting his work with us, David joined to earn some volunteer hours and enjoyed it so much he makes sure to set aside time on Tuesdays when he’s home from college.
"I think cooking massive amounts of food with my dad has definitely brought us closer together, and it’s fun being put on a project together and doing it to completion." - David
Stir-Fry
Jamaican Beef Patties
Meatballs
David enjoys cooking stir-fry in the kitchen but John loves the Jamaican beef patties and Thai-style turkey meatballs. He’s even made the meatballs at home on numerous occasions! We love that the food we cook nourishes people in need but are also proud that they’re recipes tasty enough to take home and share.
"It's been really fun working in the kitchen with David; he's great in the kitchen and we have a good time working together on recipes. I also like to see him taking lead on other dishes when we are not working on the same thing. I think volunteering with family members adds to the enjoyment - we've had a few families volunteer together and they always seem to enjoy it. I recommend it highly!" -John
Why Volunteer with Second Chance Foods?
Don't just take our word for it, here's what John and David have to say about what motivates them to help, why they care about food waste, and what it's like to volunteer.
“I really hate food waste – I grew up with a grandmother who came to this country with very little and for whom wasting food was a sin. Helping feed others, and feed them delicious, healthy food, while at the same time reducing food waste is for me a win-win-win situation.
It became important for my mental health while I was out of work; it gives me something to look forward to and feel good about by doing something for others.
Please join us! It’s fun, well organized, the people are great, you’ll learn cooking skills and have a great time helping people.”
-John
“The work I do at Second Chance Foods is important to me because I can tangibly see how many people I’m helping, especially when all of the food we make is laid out in front of us at the end of the day.
When I first joined, I had absolutely no idea what was going on, but as you begin to learn how the process tends to go, it can be one of the most rewarding experiences one can have.”
-David
Thank you, John and David!
For not only joining us in Food Justice,
but making our kitchen a part of your family tradition.
Are you interested in volunteering? Sign up today with a family member, friend, or on your own to help cook, harvest food, or even wash dishes. You’ll join an extraordinary group of people who care about feeding our community fresh, healthy, and delicious meals.