You Can Nourish

Our Neighbors in Need

Almost entirely volunteer operated, Second Chance Foods has multiple ways to get involved and make a difference in the lower Hudson Valley.ย 

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View current opportunities to get involved below!

“I’m so proud to be a small cog in this wheel of food recovery; cooking on Fridays is the highlight of my week. I enjoy the camaraderie of the volunteers and I’m completely amazed at how much healthy food we can cook in one day!” – Marieย 

Multiple Opportunities to get involved!

Frequently Asked Questions

How old do I have to be?

The minimum age for most opportunities to volunteer is 13 years old. We do have exceptions, though, and those are noted on the individual opportunity pages.ย 

Youth volunteers ages 13-15 years old MUST be accompanied by an adult 21+. All youth under the age of 18 must have a parent/guardian signature (electronic waiver upon sign-up).ย 

What will I do when I am volunteering at Second Chance Foods?

Our volunteer opportunities are diverse. You can do a rescue run or cook meals, sort through donated foods or pack CSN boxes, you can clean our facility or be an on call volunteer. Explore our open opportunities, and let us know if you have any questions.

What days and times can I volunteer?

We have Volunteer Opportunities Monday through Friday and some weekends. Shifts vary from 1 to 3 hours, and some days offer multiple shifts.

How often do I have to commit to help?

As frequently as youโ€™d like. Join us once a year, twice a month, or every week – however much time you can give will have a lasting impact on the community.

Do I need any special skills/to meet any requirements?

Transport volunteers need a vehicle and valid license/registration/insurance. All of our other opportunities welcome all skill levels.

Can we volunteer as a group?

Yes! We welcome groups of 10-15 people, primarily in the kitchen or harvesting. Corporate groups can review ourย team-building volunteer packet here. Nonprofits, church groups, scout troops, etc., should reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator, Melissa Paladino, at Volunteer@SecondChanceFoods.org orย 845-723-1309 to see if we can accommodate your request.

How do I sign myself up?

View our quick start pdf guide here or watch this short video tutorial to preview the volunteer signing up and additional tips for managing your volunteer experience.

How do I sign up a youth or someone else?

All accounts should be in the name of the person who is volunteering.ย 

This can be done in a separate account using two unique email addresses -or- by using the group account feature.

  • To sign up multiple people using one email address, you will first register and create an account with the primary person. Ex, JaneDoe@email.com, following all sign up steps.
  • Then, register the youth or additional family members you wish to use the same email address by adding โ€œ+FirstNameโ€ after the first half of the email. Ex, JaneDoe+YouthFirstName@email.com
  • Email protocol will ignore anything after the โ€œ+โ€ within the email address, this allows for multiple accounts with only one actual email address.ย 
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More Questions About Volunteering?

women wearing red handkerchief around neck smiles at camera in front of a white background and small cactus

Ask Melissa

Melissa Paladino
Volunteer Coordinator

Contact Melissa for more information about volunteer positions, group opportunities, and more!

“Helping our environment and the food insecure simultaneously while working alongside like-minded people is inspiring!”

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Follow us on social for volunteer updates and more!

Thank You to our Amazing Organization Partners

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.ย 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