painted mural of assorted vegetables with words "nourishing our neighbors" slightly blurry background with a woman in front smiling at the camera.

Introducing Laura van tienhoven

Board Member Spotlight!

Meet Laura, the newest addition to our small but mighty board of directors.

Have you met Laura van Tienhoven, our newest board member? Laura joined the Second Chance Foods board this past April and has been a fantastic addition to our small but mighty board of directors. As a board member, Laura is eager to ensure Second Chance Foods grows while staying true to our mission of providing fresh groceries and preparing delicious meals for generations to come. She’s also excited to help harness the incredible ideas shared in meetings and work on our strategic planning committee to see how much more we can accomplish as an organization for years.  

“I have enjoyed every moment being on the Board and working alongside such a dedicated and impressive group. I am energized after each meeting thinking about the various ways we could broaden our mission and expand the community we serve.” - Laura.

You may have seen Laura working one of our community outreach booths, met her at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, or most recently at our Harvest Celebration, where she served on the event committee. But if you haven’t had the opportunity, we hope you take the time to read all about Laura and her work with Second Chance Foods. 

Working to reduce waste at home and in the community.

Laura was raised in a household that didn’t waste anything— outgrown clothing, costumes, toys, bikes, books, etc always got passed down or donated; ripe produce was always cooked or frozen and leftovers were saved and re-served. 

"I run my household the same way with my own children because avoiding waste just makes sense. One-third of the world’s food supply being wasted when we have so many in need, the contrast does not make sense."- Laura.

Laura first found out about Second Chance Foods when looking for a local hunger relief nonprofit to volunteer with. She was so impressed by our dedication to redirecting local surplus produce and transforming it into delicious and nutritious meals ready to eat…week after week.  After one morning of volunteering in the kitchen, she was sold on our work and knew she wanted to stay involved. 

Taking an active role in the community.

Laura has volunteered in her community for years through her local church, school, and village improvement committees. Her dedication to supporting nearby families in need, particularly those focused on improving the wellness and education of youth, is a passion and perspective she brings to Second Chance Foods. 

Laura’s past professional background in digital marketing and research is a valuable asset to our board as we begin strategic planning and so much more. Her curiosity and excitement have made her a pleasure to work with, and we’re grateful she decided to volunteer with Second Chance Foods! 

“Through volunteering as a SCF Board Member, I hope to not only expand the number of families we serve locally, but to think more broadly. I believe we can learn from and collaborate with similar and complimentary organizations and change the statistics. “ - Laura.

Interested in joining the board?

We're always looking for professionals who want to share their talents and skills with us a board members or pro-bono volunteers. Reach out to us today with how you'd like to get involved to start the conversation!

Laura van Tienhoven

In addition to tackling local food waste and food insecurity, the staff and volunteers at Second Chance Foods care deeply about the creativity and quality of the meals they prepare each week. Their ongoing commitment is inspiring.

I grew up in the Midwest, but moved to New York after college to work in online advertising. After many years in NYC, my husband and I moved to Westchester to raise our three children. As a family, we all enjoy being engaged members of our small community and finding ways to
stay active outdoors through a variety of sports, etc.

I love to cook, especially in the fall which is my favorite season. My favorite fall recipes all include butternut squash.

Podcast recommendations. I spend a lot of time in my car driving long distances for sporting events and to visit my extended family. Interesting podcasts and good playlists make the time fly by.

contact us

We’d love to talk with you more!


P.O. Box 93

Carmel, NY10512

914-261-0797

Contact Us

Looking for food?

Though we wish we could nourish everyone in need, Second Chance Foods does not directly distribute meals or groceries to individuals at this time. We utilize existing programs in the community and supplement their food with our meals and groceries. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please refer to our resource page here for our partnerships and local options.

Mailing Address:

P.O.Box 93
Carmel, NY 10512

Kitchen Address:

120 Marvin Ave Brewster, NY 10509

*please note we do not keep "hours" at the kitchen at this time. If you are looking to donate food please contact Kathryn@SecondChanceFoods.org or call 845-723-1302

Phone:

General Questions please contact Associate Director Stephanie Purcell 845-723-1311

Volunteer Questions contact Volunteer Coordinator Heather Marinelli 845-723-1309

Contact Form


Second Chance Foods is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

EIN# 81-0996695