At Second Chance Foods, we believe that good food should never go to waste—and no one should go hungry. As a nonprofit in Brewster, NY, we partner with farms, grocers, and food distributors to rescue surplus fresh food and ensure it reaches those who need it most.
Our mission is to end the cycle of food waste and hunger by recovering local nourishing food and connecting it to anyone experiencing food insecurity while ensuring dignity and reducing barriers to access.
Our vision is a zero-hunger community where everyone has dignified access to healthy, nutritious food and a society where all available food is recovered to sustain both people and the planet.
We are passionate about and committed to rescuing food, reducing waste and feeding anyone who is hungry. We work as a team to ensure that hungry people are met where they are – with dignity, humility, and without judgment.
We are kind, empathetic, and transparent in all of our interactions. We follow through on our commitments.
We steward our resources carefully and thoughtfully. We apply creativity and adaptability in the face of uncertainty.
On March 17, 2016, our founders Alison Jolicoeur, Jean Rambush McGee, and Martha Elder took a tremendous leap of faith. Their shared passion for food justice and sustainability led them to embark on a mission to elevate the health of people and our planet through food rescue. They immediately began rescuing food from grocery stores and recovering produce from regional farms. In the first six weeks, they connected over 1,125 pounds of food with hungry people. But even then, they saw the potential for so much more. In the summer of 2017, with a grant from the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, Second Chance Foods started another important service – cooking nutritious, healthy meals. The effort began as a way of extending the life of fresh produce but quickly revealed a more significant need. For individuals and families experiencing food insecurity, mealtime can often feel uncertain or difficult. That’s why we provide more than just nourishment—our delicious, thoughtfully prepared restaurant-quality meals offer comfort, dignity, and stability during challenging times. Also, by cooking, we can accept more donations, larger quantities of single items, and less traditional produce.
Since our founding, we have scaled efficiently and effectively by creating community partnerships and collaborative programs that fill gaps in hunger relief in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, and Orange counties in New York State and Danbury, Connecticut. Our organization-to-organization model utilizes and supports existing programs, which means more people are served and less food is wasted. We have built up an extensive cold storage system at our Food Rescue Hub, so food can be picked up when available, stored, and then delivered to our hunger relief partners right before it is distributed, removing the need for on-site storage. Our innovative model has allowed Second Chance Foods to remain flexible, adaptive, and responsive to the community’s needs.
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Second Chance Foods will continue to grow our impact by expanding our ready-to-eat meals into Westchester County, making nutritious, prepared meals more accessible to those in need. To support this growth, we will welcome two new staff members, strengthening our ability to rescue, prepare, and distribute fresh, high-quality food throughout the region.
In April we moved to our new Food Rescue Hub and Kitchen, allowing us to cook more food, store additional groceries, run programs concurrently, and, most important, connect more nourishing food with the community we serve.
In partnership with CCE Putnam, our Bountiful Meals program was launched in senior centers, expanding access points to distribute healthy meals without barriers. Our staff expanded to six employees, significantly increasing our capacity and impact.
Continuing to support our growth, we added two walk-in coolers and a part-time development staff.
Our distribution and cooking grew significantly to meet the ongoing increase in hunger. We also expanded our rental space and added our first part-time Operations Assistant.
An innovative year as we responded to the challenges of the global pandemic.
New programs were quickly developed, and our Community Supported Nutrition boxes began.
Program partnerships expanded to include interns with developmental disabilities, cooking grows to year-round work, and a Mobile Cooler provides more flexibility and growth to rescue.
60 pounds of imperfect carrots launched our prepared meals program: cooking farm fresh-produce to make healthy eating easy and delicious!
Second Chance Foods officially became a nonprofit and began rescuing food from grocery stores. 1,125 pounds were recovered in the first six weeks!
I grew up with depression era parents who instilled in me the importance of not wasting food. They also modeled giving back to our local community and it has always just been a part of my life.
In my adult life I have worked as a social worker and have seen first hand the impacts of poverty and hunger on children and families. I also know that we must focus on the health of our planet, and reducing food waste is an important piece of addressing the climate crisis.
I have lived in Putnam County since 1998 with my husband. We have 2 sons, 2 dogs and a cat. I love spending time in our woods, observing nature and the changes that happen with the seasons and the years. I am grateful to have raised my children in nature and for them to have an appreciation for the natural world.
Sweet Potato? I know it’s a tuber and not a veggie but they are so delicious, versatile and nourishing!
Homeschooling, cooking with local foods, or a great realistic fiction book recommendation
I am very grateful to have the opportunity to participate alongside the volunteers of Second Chance Foods to help create delicious and nourishing meals from rescued whole foods.
I feel that finding a place at Second Chance Foods highlights my own personal farm to table experience, as my first love has always been gardening and horticulture followed by the culinary adventure to bring it to the table.
I love caring for my children, taking long walks with my dog, and spending time outside. I dream of retiring one day to a little cabin either in the woods or along the ocean.
My favorite vegetable is roasted parsnips!
Silent Retreats
Our lifesaving potential is why I am passionate about Second Chance Foods.
Food is a fundamental need, and we have the opportunity to feed the hungry using rescued resources. This intersection of rescue and resources is lifesaving for our neighbors and planet.
Because Second Chance Foods is part of a generous network of organizations and individuals who gather to help and support neighbors in need, I get to use my skills to support the mission.
Professionally, I taught composition and literature at a university and community college and moved into an academic administrator role. Then, I built upon those experiences when homeschooling my son.
When homeschooling, we had the opportunity to craft our moments; this is what led us to Second Chance Foods. What began as a service activity for our family has become a passion for each of us.
A favorite? I love them all. My dad was born during the Depression and lived in the rural South. Vegetables were plentiful when he was young. He always grew a robust garden when I was young, even when we lived in neighborhoods. His tomatoes were my favorite – a sun-warmed garden fresh tomato sprinkled with some salt!
Homeschooling, historical fiction, travel, volunteering or Louisiana cuisine!
The United States wastes a staggering 120 billion pounds of food annually. From farms to fridges, our food system is broken resulting in food insecurity and climate change. While I do what I can at home to reduce waste and compost our food scraps, it’s deeply fulfilling to use my gifts and skills to support an organization addressing these intersecting issues in such an innovative and impactful way.
I’m a mom, climate activist, mission-driven fundraiser, and the founder of PlanetarianLife.com, a non-judgemental platform that teaches people how to align their lifestyles with their hopes for the Earth. I recently transplanted from New York City to Westchester where I live with my husband, Andy, and our two kids Dash (9) and Nova (4).
To me there’s nothing more satisfying than a buttered and salted ear of freshly picked corn on the cob.
How to cook delicious plant-rich meals, the best hiking spots in the area, and for tips on hosting a party people will remember.
I grew up in a household where food was precious and never wasted. My father was the only one working to support our family. To help feed all six of us we utilized WIC and my mom’s garden filled with fresh vegetables. I think that’s why I hate wasting food and love creating a way to use food that otherwise would have been discarded.
I’ve also been drawn to cooking since I was a child. It started with my first Home-Ec class in school and has continued through today! I love taking leftovers and various things I find in the kitchen and turning them into a delicious meal – just like Second Chance Foods!
I try to instill that same appreciation at home with our children. For example, I made their baby food from scratch when they were kids. The value of eating healthy is important to me, but with three infants, it was also necessary to find the most cost-efficient way to feed our family.
Second Chance Foods is a fantastic organization. The entire process continues to amaze me. From harvesting the produce, the donations we receive, what we create from those items, and the number of volunteers that help out each day. I am proud to be part of a team that nourishes the world and saves the planet!
I have lived in Putnam County since 1985 and in Kent, NY, since 2002. My husband and I have 12-year-old triplets who keep us busy with sports and social activities. We have raised them to be an active part of society and have encouraged volunteering since they were 4 years old. As a result, they know how important it is to give back. And they love the mission of Second Chance Foods and are proud that I am part of this unbelievable organization.
I enjoy working out and eating healthy. Which is another reason I am so enamored with the mission of Second Chance Foods.
Honestly, all of them! If I had to pick, it’d be either Asparagus or Artichokes. I think I’m drawn to Artichokes because they remind me of the holidays. They’re a lot of work to prepare (we stuff them with breadcrumbs, cheese, capers, etc.), but that makes them special.
Art. Graphic Design. Ice Hockey. Lacrosse. Figure Skating. Music. Theater. Creating good sleep habits for infants. : )
Community.
I am passionate about Second Chance Foods because of the community it is… and the community it serves.
The people involved with Second Chance Foods are passionate about rescuing healthy food that would otherwise end up in the landfills. We are also passionate about getting that nutritious food and the meals we prepare to those in our community that need it. Helping our environment and the food insecure simultaneously while working alongside like-minded people is inspiring!
I was born & raised in the Hudson Valley and have been back for eighteen years now after being away for twelve.
I taught visual art in public schools for over twenty years. I still do my own art and I love to cook, volunteer, hike, entertain, travel & flower garden. My husband & I have three children and a lab mix named Cooper.
From a young age my parents instilled in me the importance of helping others. For as far back as I can remember they were very involved with volunteering in our community and church. And as soon as I was old enough, I tagged along and helped where I could. Volunteering has always been a part of my life and when our children were old enough, we made it a priority to make it a part of theirs. I am proud to say my daughter and mother are still involved in community service to this day. We are three generations of volunteers!
Oh, this is a tough one as there are so many yummy ones! I love broccoli – especially roasted or in a broccoli salad. In the summer, an ear of fresh picked sugar sweet corn and a salad is the perfect meal. And this might be a little wacky, but onions are definitely a favorite. Sautéed, grilled, raw, fried, pickled, roasted or caramelized. And of course in soup. Have you ever had a stuffed onion? Yum.
My kids, my dog, travel, cooking and making art with kids.
When I first learned of Second Chance Foods I was immediately impressed with its ability to tackle two critical issues that impact all of us- Food Waste and Hunger. Second Chance Foods addresses both of these problems and goes further to create thoughtful meals and fresh options that provide variety and create a complete diet while reducing the amount of wasted food – what could be better than that?
I also love that Second Chance Foods puts the recipients at the center of every harvested piece of produce and every meal cooked in the kitchen. The collective passion of the volunteers, board, and staff is unmistakable and carries through to all the work they do. It’s a joy to be a part of.
My bachelor’s degree is in Studio Art, but I switched to nonprofit work about a decade ago when searching for a more fulfilling career. I’ve enjoyed the variety of roles I’ve held over the years including fund development, operations, programming, and serving on a board. I still make art when I’m able and love carving relief prints.
I live in Nebraska with my husband and two dogs: Stan and Proud Mary who are very…spirited. We live on-site at a scout ranch because my husband, Robert, is the ranger. We’re grateful for everything living outside the city allows us to do like hiking, camping, canoeing, and connecting with the nature around us.
Though the Hudson Valley isn’t my own neighborhood, I feel connected to Second Chance Foods and see it as a part of my community. Since working there its mission has inspired Robert and I to do more to prevent food waste where we can. For example, during summer, the camp (where we live) hosts hundreds of people a day and receives regular deliveries of food which creates a lot of leftovers. So, he found a shelter that would take both the leftover prepared food and any extra fresh items that previously went to waste. We also donated our wedding leftovers and any extra food we can. I don’t think these efforts would have been as obvious or felt as easy without the influence of Second Chance Foods and is a testament to how far its influence reaches.
My husband would say its parsnips because I try to put them in *everything* but I also love summer tomatoes of every color and size and could probably eat kale every day.
Printmaking, foraging for mushrooms, baking easy artisan bread, hiking or camping in Wyoming, and I’m always interested in talking about birds.
I first became aware of Second Chance Foods when I worked at one of our partner farms. It warmed my heart to know that the excess food we were producing was being donated to an organization that would distribute it to people who were experiencing food insecurity and that it would not go to waste.
I am a daughter of a long-time Town Judge who always emphasized the importance of doing the right thing. He showed by example how to give back to your community where and when it was needed most. When those values are instilled within you at a young age you often seek out organizations that are champions at giving back to the community. That’s why I was so drawn to Second Chance Foods – they are doing the right thing. It’s a little twist on the saying “Waste Not, Want Not”. Second Chance Foods helps save thousands of pounds of precious food from going to waste while helping those who are in need and want access to good food not to go hungry.
I was born and raised in Westchester County, NY but married a man in the Navy and spent 20 years living in many places on the east and west coasts. We returned to NY to finish raising our four daughters, who have now all moved on to their own adventures. Now it’s just my husband Romero, myself and our two dogs, Cora and Ari. I love the outdoors and exploring all the National Parks.
Beet! The true heart vegetable! Not only do I love red and golden beets, but beet greens as well – they all just can’t be beat!!
Teaching children about sustainable agriculture and where their food comes from. Farm to table cooking. Plant medicine to keep you healthy and Traveling.
I gained deep appreciation for the cause as the Director of Recreation, Nutrition & Child Life for the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) in the late 1990s. Combating food insecurity and working towards zero hunger is among the things I care about most. Effective social action and social change flourishes when basic needs are met. I am deeply inspired by how Second Chance Foods prevents waste and provides amazing resources with dignity and grace.
I am the mom of Joshua, a recent (soon to be… 5/17) college graduate, and a collegiate track athlete. I recently moved from Putnam to Duchess County. I am the executive director at Bet Am Shalom Synagogue in White Plains, and I am very inspired by my work. I love the beach, swimming, cooking, taking long walks on the rail trail with my partner Tom.
Carrots!
All things folk dance, folk and country music!
Second Chance Foods focuses on two critical challenges: environmental sustainability and reducing hunger. It is that rare organization that delivers simultaneously on a dual mandate and does both really well. I was inspired to get involved because of the passion everyone at Second Chance Foods has for addressing these missions. We are a small group of motivated people pulling together to make this world better for our environment and our community.
I’ve been fortunate to have worked for three fantastic companies over the past 30 years: Moody’s Analytics, Oliver Wyman, and Goldman Sachs. While specializing in sales, I also have experience in finance, operations, and general management. At home, my wife Kathleen and I have three great kids (Sam, Zoe & Nate) and our dog Siena. I spend my spare time playing bass guitar and trying to be outside as much as possible.
I like to cook what’s in season. Zucchini, tomatoes & corn in the summer, brussel sprouts & broccoli rabe in autumn, cabbage in winter, and asparagus in spring.
Traveling and cooking. I’ve been to 57 countries and enjoy trying recipes from all over.
I am passionate about environmental, nutritional, and social justice issues. Second Chance Foods addresses all of these. I love spending time outdoors and nature is, for me, a teacher and a healer. While raising my children, I was on a food stamp program, twice, through WIC (Woman, Infants, and Children). While I am grateful for this assistance, I intimately understand the feeling of food insecurity. My favorite part of working with Second Chance Foods is the opportunity to harvest on the local farms we collaborate with. I value the fresh, organic produce I personally glean for our clients.
I have lived in Putnam County since 1991 raising my 3 children, all of whom are involved in non-profit work. Over the years, I have studied on the graduate level Physiology of Exercise, Nutrition, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Integrative Holistic Health and Healing. As an instructor of massage therapy, I have been able to incorporate all of these areas in my teachings, with the hope of instilling an appreciation for a wholistic approach to life in my students and massage clients. As a co-founder of Second Chance Foods I have been blessed with the opportunity to be on different farms and to start learning how to grow my own food. A huge plus since I have a love for digging in the dirt.
Honey Nut Squash, Butternut Squash, and Cauliflower. Chopped, coated with oil, and roasted.
Homeschooling, self-care, one of my favorite authors, Barbara Kingsolver (she writes both fiction and non-fiction heavily based on nature), Andrew Goldsworthy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and my love for reading seed catalogs.
I first encountered SCF through my Rotary Club. SCF needed cooling capacity and the club offered some relief by providing a mobile cooler.
Volunteering for food preparation at the kitchen followed. It was a lesson in local food insecurity. Then the COVID crisis ratcheted up need as well as an outpouring of generosity.
Seeing neighbors in distress reminded me of the family stories I heard growing up. It was a reminder of why my immigrant grandparents left their homeland and how their children suffered through the Great Depression.
I continue to be astounded by SCF’s throughput statistics and its complex matrix of moving donated foods and prepared meals to people in need.
I grew up in Queens where I “survived” 12 years of parochial school. After marrying, Cecilia and I lived on Long Island for 11 years then moved to Putnam in 1987. My immediate family now consists only of myself and my adult daughter who also resides in Putnam.
Lettuce… As found in a BLT on a roll with extra mayo.
How things are made, why they stopped working or would never work to begin with. Putnam County History, and the birds at my feeders.
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.
Second Chance Foods hits on all the things I care about, helping the environment for our future & our kids and bringing delicious, nutritious food to those that need it are causes that everyone can get excited about.
I am a husband and father of two. Outside of work I play guitar in a local 80s cover band. Time outside with friends and family is my favorite :)
Asparagus! I think what I love the most about asparagus is how much I didn’t like it as a child. It’s amazing how our taste buds change as we grow up, or maybe it’s just that I’ve been able to improve on how the vegetable is being cooked. Either way, I love the flavor and something about snapping the bottom of the stalks is really satisfying.
Ultimate Frisbee and 80s music. I have played Ultimate Frisbee all over the country since I was in 8th grade; in my opinion, it is the greatest game ever invented. I think the 80s is the best decade for music :-)
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
