Unlike traditional hunger relief programs, we focus on providing nutrient-dense food and restaurant-quality meals. Our unique and comprehensive food rescue model includes farm gleaning, surplus food rescue, community collaboration, and a commercial kitchen. Together, these efforts reduce food waste and increase access to healthy food options for those in need.
First, we collect food from grocery stores, local farms, orchards, wholesalers, or other sources with a surplus of usable food.
We divide our donations into two groups based on quantity, freshness, and type:
Finally, we connect fresh groceries and nourishing meals with the community through various unique partnerships to help increase the quantity and quality of food available for hunger relief.
One of the most unique things about Second Chance Foods is The Kitchen! Our commercial kitchen is vital to our food recovery and hunger relief efforts. By cooking multiple times a week with recovered food, we significantly reduce food waste—but our meals are so much more.
We connect available surplus with those in need by focusing on rescuing usable surplus from grocery stores, retail markets, wholesalers, and local farms. Then we use our extensive cold storage system to keep food fresh and connect it with the community. Together, our Food Rescue Hub, The Kitchen, and all our partners are creating a stronger, more resilient food system.
That’s why, in 2022, we partnered with the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam (CCEP) to stock freezers with easy-to-access, nourishing, and delicious grab-and-go meals made fresh in The Kitchen. This innovative program began as a way to increase health in older adults and was piloted at Putnam County senior centers but has rapidly evolved into a critical community service. Ensuring food is available where older adults gather and have scheduled transportation removes multiple barriers to access.
However, hunger and the obstacles to accessing relief affect individuals of all ages. That’s why we’re continually expanding our ready-to-eat meals and freezers to libraries and other community locations. We’re making it easier for anyone in need to access freezers filled with our nourishing meals—no complicated forms, no income verification, just access to good food.
While the county is known for its affluence, many residents quietly struggle with food insecurity, especially seniors, families, and those living with disabilities. That’s why starting in 2025, we’re growing our presence in Westchester through new partnerships and establishing community freezers that increase access. This expansion ensures that nutritious, ready-to-eat meals reach those who need them most.
Like a CSA box, our signature CSN box program provides weekly deliveries of freshly prepared nutritious meals and groceries such as produce, eggs, dairy, bread, and other perishable staples. Recipients can pick up boxes in a drive-through setting or have them delivered by volunteers from Mount Carmel Bible Church. Launched in April 2020 to support vulnerable neighbors during the pandemic, it quickly proved to be an essential service that continues growing as the need for accessible, alternative hunger relief solutions remains higher than ever.
The first step to nourishing communities is rescuing the food before it goes to waste! From farms and orchards to grocery stores and wholesalers, we receive donations of all kinds of food from community partners who, like us, are committed to breaking the cycle of food waste. Our dedicated volunteers ensure this food reaches individuals and hunger relief partners in need by collecting, cooking, and distributing fresh groceries and delicious meals to the community that needs them.
Most of our food comes from grocery stores because they always have excess. To cater to buying trends, stores remove imperfect items, products close to their sell-by date, or even food with lightly damaged packaging; that’s where we step in! Our team of staff and volunteers rescue food from grocery stores every day of the week.
We are so grateful for our grocery donors who can provide surplus food all year round. Our current grocery store and wholesale retail partners include:
The Hudson Valley is abundant with local organic farms that grow some of the most delicious and nutritious produce. However, most farms can sell only aesthetically pleasing produce, and it’s hard for them to harvest all the crop that grows, which equals food waste. That’s why we have partnered with local farms and other growers in the community. During harvest season, volunteer-powered gleaning efforts rescue excess produce and fruit directly from the field, and we also receive donations of already harvested produce from farms throughout the year. Through gleaning and harvesting, we reduce local food waste and ensure the freshest and best quality produce is used in our meals and deliveries.
Thank you to our Farm Partners!
While grocery stores and farms provide ongoing food, sometimes we receive special donations. From private orchards to home delivery services, we love the opportunity to disrupt the cycle of food waste in any way we can.
We’re often asked where our food goes and are proud to answer—”Everywhere it can!” From food pantries to community organizations that recognize the need for hunger relief as a part of their services, we work closely with over 20 partners to distribute food seven days a week. Our team works hard to support our regular community partners and stays flexible to respond quickly as new requests arise. As a Food Rescue Hub, we believe it’s essential to collaborate across organizations and county lines to effectively address hunger in our community and welcome new conversations and partnerships as our capacity allows. We regularly service organizations in Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, and Westchester counties in New York and cross the border to deliver food in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Our Putnam County Partners include:
Our Dutchess County Partnerships include:
Our current Westchester Partners include:
Our Orange County Partnerships include Glory2God Ministries of Newburgh.
Our work in Fairfield County includes Dorothy Day Hospitality House and Saint Joseph’s Parenting Center which are both in Danbury, Connecticut.
We’re always looking to create meaningful community connections. Each of our partnerships is different to best serve the unique needs of all organizations involved.
If you think your organization would be a good fit for our program we’d love to talk more!
Sign Up for our weekly emails to get the latest news, stories, volunteer opportunities, impact, recipes and more! To kick things off you’ll receive our recipe for Roasted Carrot Soup—the first meal we ever made in the kitchen.
Though we wish we could supply food to everyone in need, Second Chance Foods cannot provide meals or groceries directly to individuals. Our solution is to collaborate with 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.
120 Marvin Ave
Brewster, NY 10509
Volunteer Questions contact Volunteer Coordinator Melissa Paladino 845-723-1309
For all other questions please contact us at 845-723-1315
