The struggles that returning citizens face often go unnoticed by our broader community. Second Chance program participants may not qualify for supplementary food assistance, also known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Benefits). They also may not have enough money to acquire personal hygiene items. These challenges often lead families to believe that they are not worthy of investment, or that their situation is hopeless. This added pressure can damage their sense of self-worth and compromise their ability to lead a productive life. With these barriers in mind, Second Chance looks for support from our community of donors. As a result, our pantry at Second Chance has grown. The Second Chance pantry consists of a well-stocked, participant-friendly array of hygiene products, nutritious food for varied living situations, meal kits and other essential items that many people take for granted.
This free resource directly reflects the needs of our participants and is answered prayer to many of the people who come to our office needing assistance. Hardships are common among the populations we serve. Being able to provide a dignified resource like our pantry helps our clients have access to food and hygiene products regardless of their economic status. At Second Chance, we work on long-term goals that often take a lengthy time to achieve. However, it is also important to recognize that hunger and basic human needs exist every day. Every person in the community, regardless of their past and present circumstances, deserves access to resources to fulfill their basic human needs to survive.
At Second Chance, as we work alongside our program participants, our Resource Specialists are presented with a wide variety of needs. Our goal is to do everything possible to relieve the stress of the reentry journey so that our clients have a greater chance of succeeding. With community support, we hope to continue to address and conquer the issue of food insecurity for those returning citizens.
Second Chance would like to sincerely thank the community partners who support our work: Giving Hope & Help, Harvesters, Indigo Wild (Zum Soap), Liquid Soap Products, and Nature’s Grocers.
“Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”-Scott Adams