Second Chance Inc

Thank you for an excellent experience. I feel great about the program and it’s benefits to your workforce, landfills and the economic benefit we realize. I stopped by the site a couple of times and your team was courteous and hardworking. The best part is, the neighbors loved the idea of the program and no one complained about anything.

Second Chance just completed a salvage job on a new property that we purchased. Once the team got started, they were efficient, professional, organized and completed the job quickly. I love the mission of the organization and am really happy we were able to utilize them for our project. I would highly recommend them for any demo project where they can be of service.

I was bought a coffee table from them, and came to pick it up and the same WHITE man who sold it to me SOLD it to someone else after the item was already paid for. Everyone there was looking for the Table, because it was not SOLD again in the system. We'll low behold this man told me he SOLD it to someone else before I could pick it up only 6 days.

Can't say enough positive things about 2nd Chance! Since 2017 we have worked on 4 projects together, and we continue to be impressed by their service. The management team is transparent, responsive, and has always done a great job of ensuring a smooth process. The deconstruction crews we've been assigned have been efficient, thorough, and done a great job maintaining a clean job site . We look forward to more opportunities to work with 2nd Chance and highly recommend them to anyone looking to support sustainable practices while getting top-notch service!

We worked with Second Chance on a deconstruction project. They made the whole process very easy and seamless. Second Chance was very organized and communicative and worked efficiently. It’s great that the materials are reused and not thrown away. I would definitely work with them again.

We hired Second Chance to deconstruct a single-family home on property we bought for redevelopment. The process was smooth and easy from start to finish. Second Chance’s planning team gave clear answers to all of our questions, and the work unfolded exactly as they promised: the crew performing the work came on the date agreed, and finished up on the day they forecasted. During the work, the foreman, Santos, regularly provided us status updates, and he and the crew were courteous throughout. They also coordinated with our other contractors performing site work at the same time they were on the property, and were flexible in accommodating our other contractors’ needs. Our neighbors also commented how quietly and efficiently the work proceeded. I would highly and unqualifiedly recommend Second Chance to anyone looking to perform a deconstruction.

My intent for this letter is to give my perspective in working with Second Chance for the deconstruction of our house.

For our property, I had Juan as the work crew Supervisor and he had 5 others on his team that did our house deconstruction. I spent my career in manufacturing management until I retired and Juan and his crew were great. He had an organized system and showed wonderful communication and leadership skills with his people.

First they were very professional, worked hard and were very efficient. They showed up each morning on time, were very polite and considerate to any needs that I had expressed, cleaned up at the end of each day and most importantly, cleaned up at the end of the total deconstruction.

They called to ask if they could arrive a few days ahead of schedule which in my experience almost never happens so we were so delighted. And they were able to finish 1 week ahead of the schedule that I was expecting.

It was very impressive watching their progress each day, first starting on the interior and eventually working their way to the exterior.

I was amazed at how quickly they worked and the amount of construction materials they were able to salvage during the deconstruction of our house. They also removed 2 large steel beams that spanned the first and second floors which were not known in early inspections, significantly reducing the weight and amount that a demolition company would need to haul to landfill. They also removed a significant amount of insulation material which they nicely bagged and took for reuse. This eliminated one of my earlier concerns expressed by a demolition company that often the insulation would not be taken, get wet from rain after Second Chance finished before the house would finally be demolished and add more weight to their landfill costs.

I was happy to watch them load 2 large trucks with all the materials from our house to go back to Second Chance for re-use in another worthy cause.

Our house was 2 stories, roughly 1500 sf with a small 4 foot crawl space. They significantly reduced the waste for landfill, to the crawl space and about 4 feet high of the first floor which they contained by leaving a partial plywood wall acting as an envelope to hold the waste.

Thank you Second Chance for a very Professional job!

Second Chance deconstructed our home and we were extremely satisfied by their fast and thorough work. They extracted so much more than we'd expected and left little more than a shell of the home. Team members were helpful in answering questions in advance of the project and the workers on-site were also able to give us updates and answer questions. I highly recommend Second Chance and will be stopping by their Baltimore location to look for furnishings soon.

We decided to completely gut our house for a major renovation. We heard about Second Chance from our builder, and we are so glad he referred Second Chance to us. Second Chance was easy to work with and their crew did an outstanding job of reclaiming the salvageable parts. This “deconstructing’ work also provided job training opportunities while salvaging materials to donate. The workers were courteous, thorough, meticulous, and neat, and they work seamlessly with the builder. This is a win-win for Second Chance and for us. Their efforts help socially, environmentally and financially. We are so pleased with Second Chance, and we strongly recommend any homeowners, who are planning a major renovation project to consider using their deconstruction service.

I was happy to have discovered Second Chance whereby a Deconstruction of the house was done that provided valuable training to Second Chance crew as well as recycled a lot of the material thus reducing waste in the landfill.

The service provided by Second Chance is very professional and they have worked out the deconstruction process into a fine art. I was very impressed with the precision work done on removal of hardwood flooring as well as other materials like appliances and framing. The crew was courteous, and ensured work was done without disturbance to the neighbors.

Right from my first contact with Ryan Mariman, it has been smooth working with Second Chance. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking at renovating or demolishing their house. It is a win-win; material get recycled, client gets a tax deduction.

Thanks Second Chance!

...Monica

wood, wood and more! Thank you Second Chance for helping fulfill my love for wood! I started out making simple gifts and now use wood in ways I never wood have thought. Did you ever consider putting flooring on your walls? I didn't until I saw red oak flooring on the walls of Second Chance!

yes it takes a little more time - but it's worth it!

Second Chance recently completed a deconstruction of a residential home on our property. We were very pleased with the communication and guidance that the folks at Second Chance provided throughout the process. Overall we had a great experience and are thrilled that Second Chance was able to recycle usable materials from this property and reduce the amount of quality material ending up in the landfill.

The Second Chance crew just finished doing the deconstruction of our beloved old summer cottage. The crew was efficient and clean and thorough and our 89 year old mom who was staying next door had a fun time watching the process from a safe distance and meeting the very friendly crew on their breaks. We are so grateful that there is a place like Second Chance that can harvest and re-use the materials from our cottage so it doesn't all go to a landfill somewhere and be wasted. It also makes me very happy to know this program is training folks on the crews with job skills they can get paid for in the future. And finally I have made several calls to folks int he office to clarify and understand the process and everyone has been so friendly and helpful. I look forward to recommending Second Chance Inc to anyone looking for a great green alternative to seeing all these re-usable materials go to waste!

Love this place! So many unique items and kind people!

Love the Second Chance store! Customer service is very professional and helpful. Fun selection and ideas.

We used Second Chance to decontruct our house in Weston, MA. We wanted to reduce wastage and reuse as much of the material and appliances as possible. Second Chance made that possible. From the time of first contact to the execution of the deconstruction - the team kept us informed at each step and was transparent about the whole process. The team was efficient and highly organized. They worked diligently to break down and take most of the pieces of the house. They were very careful in storing the appliances that we wanted to reuse for our project. Not a scratch on them. The team is impressive. They worked really hard and did a fantastic job!

Highly recommend them if you are considering a deconstruction!

When we outgrew our home and decided to rebuild, I hated the idea of all the materials with remaining usable life going to a landfill. Luckily, our builder recommended Second Chance. From the beginning through the end of the project, Second Chance was responsive and professional. We knew exactly what to expect and they were able to complete our deconstruction project in a way that did not slow down the rest of our build. I cannot recommend the people at Second Chance enough if you are considering a deconstruction/rebuild.

We are working on a demo/build in Arlington, VA. Instead of demolishing the house, we wanted as much of the material and appliances to be reused as much as possible. Second Chance made that possible. From the time of first contact to the execution of the deconstruction - the team kept us informed at each step and was transparent about the whole process. Heartily recommend them if you are considering a deconstruction!

We were there at Second Chance on Friday, February 10th, 2023 to look for tile for our bathroom.
First, let me say how incredibly helpful, polite and attentive your floor staff is. They're just wonderful!
We wound up buying tile for our shower, the floor, we found a bathroom vanity and a cabinet to use for linens. All in all we spent less than what we were going to pay for just a vanity from an online retail store.
Of course this isn't our first trip at Second Chance. We support your mission, not only to keep items from landfills, but, the opportunity that is provided to the men and women who are employed. We are, and will continue to be loyal customers. Thank you so much.

I have shopped at Second Chance for several years, outfitting an artisan store with items from there-great finds that fit my very small budget! I love their mission and the wonderful staff who work there!

Love Second Chance! We've made donations and I always discover great finds and bargains.

I really didn't expect to find what i was looking for when I went to Second Chance last weekend. Old houses are great and fun to renovate (most of the time) when you can find the parts and pieces needed to be authentic. I've looked EVERYWHERE for wooden shutters. Not only did they have 2, they also had the hardware so that I could hang them! Their salesman Jerry was a BIG help.

I'm coming back this week to match some door knobs. Cool stuff and fair prices.

Stahl Homes LLC is a local builder in Northern Virginia. We have worked with many clients to help them deconstruct their respective homes. We have had many experiences some good some complete nightmares. We were extremely pleased with the entire process with Second Chance, Inc. From the detailed information they provided the client, the outstanding coordination and scheduling between our Construction Team and their crew and the simple fact that their work was of the utmost care, cleanliness and safety conscious effort. It only happens every now and then, but this was one of those times when we just check in, things are running smooth and we check out. Thank you to all those involved for an exceptional project from start to finish.

I love this place! My wife says I spend entirely too much time there!

Love shopping here because I know it's all going to a good cause, and I love the way they run their non-profit. I really appreciate their approach to hiring and how the funds are used.

We were so grateful that we worked with 2nd Chance in the deconstruction of the house on the property where we were building our new home. Instead of knocking down the house and throwing away what was useful, 2nd Chance came in and systematically deconstructed the house. Anything useful was neatly organized and taken away to be used elsewhere. I also loved that this organization employs workers that need a 2nd chance in life. Every aspect of this project from the appraisal to the deconstruction went smoothly! We 100% recommend working with this great non-profit!

When I tore down my home to rebuild, I didn't want toss it in a landfill. And, I wanted to explore the tax benefits of deconstruction. But, neither my builder or I were familiar with the process. The team at Second Chance walked us through the process and connected us with all the information and support professionals we needed. They even helped remove and donate personal belongings in the house. From project managers, to donations team, to deconstruction team, 2nd Chance took things OFF my to-do list instead of adding to it. They were professional and responsive throughout the entire process.

What a wonderful experience we had with Second Chance! I work for a small non profit that was downsizing and Jessica/Donation Coordinator was so responsive and informative during the donation process. While our donation didn't fit the specs for a truck pick up (which was fine), my husband and I made a few trips over with his truck and wow -- were we impressed. All the donation staff were so friendly. Our "point person" for both of our deliveries was Will and he was kind, helpful and informative. We chatted throughout the delivery and Will truly made the experience top notch. My husband and I will be back to shop PLUS we plan to make all my household donations to Second Chance moving forward -- wonderful organization!

We are doing a big renovation. Second Chance came to pick up our cabinets, sinks, toilets, radiators, appliances, and a wide range of other items. I CAN NOT say enough about the crew. They swept in like superheroes, picking up heavy items, wrapping valuable pieces, and fitting more things in a truck than I thought was possible! They were also friendly and kind.

Huge thanks to Luis and his team!

Also, thanks to Lisa for her help with coordination.

We are deeply grateful.
Warmly,
Christy
Alexandria, VA

A few years back we donated kitchen cabinets to Second Chance when we updated our kitchen. So when we replaced our pedestal sinks with a vanity in our new home, we knew who to call! Since we downsized when we moved we also had some furniture that needed to find a new home, so I called Second Chance. Arranging a pick up date was easy. Luis and his team pulled right up to the barn and they got to work. They worked quickly. Their professional, upbeat attitudes were a great way to start off the week. I have tried to get other organizations to come pick up donations, and they didn’t show up or I had to cancel because of the weather. I am so glad Luis and his team came here today, and I’m looking forward to working with second Chance again soon!

We have been so impressed with the professionalism, responsiveness, patience, and thoroughness of the team at Second Chance. We coordinated with them over several months to donate everything that could be reused at a house out of state we were knocking down. They made the whole thing very easy. They gave really comprehensive answers to our questions. They were very patient when we ran into a bunch of unexpected delays that pushed our house's "deconstruction" out by multiple months. They were ready to hit the ground running once we were ready and we felt confident that everything would go well even though we couldn't be onsite when the time came to work on our house. We couldn't recommend Second Chance highly enough.

Second Chance in Baltimore, MD is a fantastic community organization. From my initial email requesting to donate my Mom’s dining room set through the pickup, this organization is well organized and customer focused. Angela and her team were very professional. The moving team was very courteous and professional - better than some moving companies. I appreciated that they treated the furniture with care and wrapped it so it would not scratch. I would not hesitate to donate to this wonderful organization in the future.

Second Chance is our “go-to” place for replacement hardware for our historic house. We always check out the vintage decor and more while we’re there. It’s fun to check out the quirky conversation pieces, too! We are always pleased with the helpful and courteous staff, amazing inventory and the one-of-a-kind treasures!

Second Chance picked up bedroom and living room furniture we were replacing. From the first call to the scheduling team to the actual retrieval at my home, the Second Chance team was professional, prompt and courteous. Very smooth from start to finish.

Worst, unscrupulous, scammers and cheats. Performs sub par work for outrageous donations and are not resonable to work our terms....Stay, RUN AWAY

We purchased a house which needed a gut reno. Second Chance was incredibly professional, helpful and fast and got the entire house cleaned out in one week. I am so happy that I was able to help Second Chance with their mission as well as donate all this material

I highly recommend!

Second Chance is an amazing organization that tirelessly works to carry out two important missions - reducing our environmental impact by reclaiming and reusing materials and providing economic and training opportunities to the community. We are donors and supporters of Second Chance and are grateful for their impact. The staff are dedicated, professional, incredible people and make the deconstruction process easy.

We are SO incredibly pleased and happy that we choose to donate our house to Second Chance! They were organized, flexible, quick and responsive. Our neighbors and I were amazed about how much of the house they were able to reclaim. There was very little left when they were done and it made me so happy to know that not only did that redirect supplies and materials to be reused instead of going to a landfill but that the process trained others.

I am so happy I donated my furniture to Second Chance. They are extremely well organized and they made the process so easy. I will certainly donate to them again and recommend them to everyone

Second Chance makes donating furniture so easy. We donated all of our old bedroom furniture. The crew showed up right on time and did a great job moving lots of big, bulky pieces. They were very professional, neat and quick. I highly recommend Second Chance!

Second Chance has saved my sanity! With all the Covid challenges, it's nice to shop at a place that has all employees mask and social distance. Always friendly, always helpful. I took on a couple of DIY's and they had what I needed - kitchen cabinets that I could afford look better than anything from the big box stores and kitchen retailers (some have closed!). I just bought some patio furniture - hoping I can have some neighbors over in the Summer!

Thank you Second Chance for what you do, there are lots of people looking for work; I'm glad you hire people who can't find jobs!

George

We would highly recommend Second Chance if you are remodeling or demolishing your existing home to build a new home. They worked seamlessly with our builder and performed the deconstruction job on time. Second Chance's employees were all professional and did an outstanding job. We are grateful that we were able to donate so much material from our existing home to others in need. Bill and Kim Chipman, Rehoboth Beach Delaware.

As a custom home builder, Castlewood Consulting has referred clients to Second Chance for over ten years. Many of our projects involve the complete or partial demolition of area homes. Second Chance partners with us to deconstruct these homes, save the reusable materials, and make them available to those in need. They also provide important job training and workforce development in the Baltimore area. Indeed, Second Chance provides our clients with a wonderful way to give back to the community during the homebuilding process. We are so proud to partner with this great organization. They give building materials, the environment and – most importantly – deserving people, a second chance in life.

Todd and Andrea Wood, Owners, Castlewood Consulting

As a non profit that assist with job placement for people that have challenges finding work is a challenge within itself. I admire the determination it takes to train and counsel the men and women that have faced so many obstacles that they are totally defeated and deflated. To commit to the tasks of training and mentoring should always be recognized and commended... Job well done Second Chance... Keep up the good work!!!

We’re remodeling our kitchen, laundry room and half bath. Someone recommended donating our cabinets to Second Chances. I spoke to Lisa. She’s so WONDERFUL. We talked in detail about the items to be donated and she helped get us an appraiser and she set up the pick up. Everything went smoothly even though the weather was horrible. The people that came were all respectful, polite and professional. They were careful with all of the items. I love what Second Chances stands for. They not only help people get jobs and train for new skills but they also help decrease waste in landfills. Thank you for all that you do.

From the moment we walked through the double red doors to the checkout of our furniture purchase my wife and I were impressed with the overall positive experience we had at Second Chance. We were greeted by a very professional and courteous salesperson shortly after entering the store. Since this was our first visit we decided to walk around the entire store before circling back to the furniture area. We had no idea how big the store was and how large a selection there is of household items to choose from. Besides seeing all of the materials that otherwise may have gone to waste, we also shared a rewarding feeling knowing that we helped Second Chance in their mission to provide opportunities to those less fortunate and struggling to find employment. We were excited to tell our family and friends about our Second Chance experience and certainly plan to be returning customers !

Have been shopping at Second Chance since 2009 and have purchased many items I could not have found anywhere else. It makes home improvements almost fun and there is always something new to use in creative ways.

It also feels good to support a social enterprise that is really making a difference in peoples lives and helping to keep reusable items out of the landfill. It's obvious that there is a culture of gratitude with the associates and sales people who will go to great efforts to help you find what you think you need.

I recommend Second Chance to anyone that likes a different shopping experience and exploring new ways to utilize old stuff.

I’ve donated, shopped, and volunteered here. Each time, it has been my fortunate privilege to do so. When shopping, I’m quickly and kindly greeted and asked if I need help. When volunteering and donating, I’m met with a heartfelt thank you.

Cannot count the amount of unique and amazing items I’ve procured from this haven of goodies! From a limited edition, framed map to a double oven....my house and garden are FILLED with Second Chance finds!!

Second Chance is an amazing treasure trove of furniture, lighting and so many other eclectic, one of a kind pieces for the home. We make a trip down at least once a month, we love to browse every single aisle. We have purchased so many things for our home from there. We love that we can find unique items that make our home stand out. We turned a barn door into an herb garden, shutters into a garden table, and refinished dining room chairs that are absolutely gorgeous. The prices are so reasonable and the staff is so helpful. One of our favorite places to visit.

Just left Second Chance with things to help me renovate my rowhouse. great value and selection of bathroom fixtures and a vanity. Didn't plan to pick up tile but the selection was different than what I saw about 2 weeks ago. Clearly new materials every day to choose from and really good prices compared to retailers. I feel good about keeping stuff out of the dump! Met a couple of great employees (kept our distance) and learned more about where everything comes from. Donations (everybody is cleaning out their houses) and Deconstruction (employees learn skills on how to to take apart a house). What they learn are skills they can take to any contractor job. Second Chance promotes their employees; what's better than that!

Pros:

1. Incredibly wide selection of anything you need for the home. This is our first stop when we have a project or are looking for something unique to freshen up a room. My wife refers to our trips to Second Chance as "treasure hunts".

2. The staff is generally very helpful and attentive. Anytime we've had a question the salesperson couldn't answer they were able to quickly find someone who could.

3. Their mission is one that benefits the environment and people.

4. This may sound strange given some of the other feedback I've read, but "pricing". I don't think some people realize that the pricing is tiered. In other words, the longer the item remains unsold, the lower the price goes. Also, don't be afraid to try to negotiate on pricing. We've found that there is usually some wiggle room.

Cons:

1. The bathrooms are a bit..."rustic".

2. The store is not climate controlled. I was going to give a 4 star review for this reason alone, but if you make sure to dress with a mindset that it's the same temperature in the store as it is outside, you should be fine.

Overall:

We love coming here! We never know what we're going to find, but it's always something great.

Second Chance is one of my favorite community partners! I have sent countless students to volunteer with Second Chance over the last few years because I know they will always experience a meaningful day of service. The team at Second Chance takes the time to share the true meaning of what Second Chance is all about and their impact on our community. My students come away from volunteering from Second Chance with new skills (they love pulling nails from the wood!) and a greater appreciation and insight for those who have previously been incarcerated. Thank you to Second Chance for making my life as a volunteer coordinator so easy! See you soon!

Our group had a great experience volunteering for Second Chance. The people we worked with were personable and professional, and we were able to understand how our contribution helped their overall mission. Equally important, we got to meet and learn from great people.

As a customer, I have shopped here for my home multiple times. That experience alone is worth bragging about. However, as an employee of TEKsystems, I had the opportunity to volunteer here for a day and see what type of hard work goes into their daily routine. The employees were awesome, helpful, and very willing to help us with all of our questions. In learning about this nonprofit, I learned how all of the employees hired are people being given a second chance at their life and how impactful this place was for these men and women. Very empowering. I would definitely be willing to go back and volunteer more of my time.

Second Chance has not only been working to provide housing and other living essentials but to also give opportunities to honest people coming from a harsh background. The testimonials given to us by some of their employees pulled at our heartstrings and made us appreciate just what sort of assistance Second Chance gives. It's so hard to come from where they have been and this is the perfect first step to getting on the right path.

We were there with TEK Systems for #TEKgivesback and it was only a few hours of pulling nails and cleaning refurbished products but we were able to make connections that would have never been possible if Second Chance weren't there for them. Their fundamental desire to help give people experience and trade skills is the reason so many have made it back to a stable life.

As one volunteer said, Second Chance isn't here to just give these products another chance at life but to give people a second chance too.

Thank you.

1 Peter 1:3-5

I love Second Chance! I was first a customer, then a donor and then a volunteer. And now I am a repeat customer, donor and volunteer. Second Chance is a great place to come and feel good about the world. Retrain, Reclaim, Renew... that is what it is all about!

I have recently volunteered with my company at Second Chance and it was amazing! To have a place that gives those who need a second chance a SECOND CHANCE! The management team is very passionate about their organization and it passes through their staff as well. I had a great time working along side the many men and woman who work there. Kareem, Brian, and mareice were great! They made sure we had everything we needed and made sure we met back with our teams at the correct times. This organization is absolutely beautiful from its mission to the wonderful things they sell! And they sell everything! My new place to shop and volunteer!

This is a great organization! They are helping people in need and helping the environment, while improving the appearance of Baltimore. I loved my volunteer experience there and will definitely return! The leadership is great and their employees are wonderful, hard-working folks just trying to get ahead!

Very well run and organized. Everyone that we interacted with was dedicated and seemed to really enjoy their jobs and the work that they were doing.

Absolutely Love Second Chance! They have an incredible mission and an incredible staff. I have loved all our work with them and thoroughly enjoy their initiative in leaning new things and trying new things.

Anyone who ever needs a testimonial regarding this organization just call away and ill go and on about how great they are!

Cheers to Second Chance!

I was blown away with the decor when walking into the building. Building parts and Marquee signs dressed the area, some of which brought me back to some of the old buildings and museums I had visited.

But I was there to do a job, my group volunteered to assist with simple tasks for the day, and left with a better feeling from a Second Chance. The professionalism in the building, coupled with the stress on safety and their cordial attitude helped us to get the job done for the day.

My favorite part was spending time with those employed, learning some of the tricks of the trade and seeing everything through their eyes. From a hammer and nails to a broom, I could hear the "Whistle while you work attitude everyone walked around with.

After my day of work, I walked out proud of the team we had become for the day and proud of earning the callouses I had made.

This place is a DIY dream and Top Notch!

I just recently had the opportunity to volunteer at Second Chance with my coworkers and colleagues. I was so touched to hear the stories of so many of the employees that were offered a chance to start over irrespective of their backgrounds. I was touched to be able to share a day with a few of the employees working on the floor that day. In particular, I spent the most time with Karim and Bryan. They made us feel like we were truly a part of their team. They anticipated what we may have needed to complete the tasks assigned to us and frequently checked in to make sure that we were alright. They made our experience fun with light humor and by simply being themselves. I was honored to work alongside these individuals as they were so humble and hard-working. It was a pleasure to spend the day with them and I'm so excited that this non-profit organization pours so much into the lives of people who want create a better lives for themselves. It's absolutely amazing the amount of support this organization provides to the people who join their team, and to the community as a whole.

This organization is doing great I was proud to volunteer and contribute to a great organization.

I have been working wit Second Chance for the better part of four years- both as student volunteer and now as a professional in Baltimore. This organization is the best of the best and truly showcase what it means to build a "better Baltimore." Every volunteer that comes to the organization is taken with the charm and treasures of the warehouse but also the heart wrenching and inspiring stories of those who work at Second Chance. After a morning of volunteering, there is nothing better than roaming the showroom floor looking for a great deal!

I have volunteered a few times with Second Chance this past year, as well as being an avid shopper . The folks that work here are phenomenal, caring, and passionate about what they do. Their mission can be seen in how they operate daily, and I hope more people will stop by!

So yesterday I finally made it into this store! Every employee I encountered friendly, professional and helpful (so not what happens at big box stores)! And trust me, I had lots of questions! The store was incredibly organized! And the treasures I discovered! I can't wait to go back, just to explore! Btw, I did find the medicine cabinet I came for. And it was so much better than I'd hoped to find (real wood and half off, oh my!) I love this place!

Second Chance was a pleasure to deal with. We are building a house long distance and used them to recycle the material in the old house that was to be demolished. They handled everything! After meeting the team and being impressed with their professionalism and care, we didn't even have to show up. They did the job in a timely manner and left the site secured. They made doing a good deed painless and pleasant. We highly recommend them.

Second Chance is very easy to work with and the team there is fantastic!

Cari and her team are extremely helpful and professional! We have a great partnership with them, as we are a charity as well. When we are not able to accept donations, it helps knowing that I can refer the donors to Cari who will work swiftly to accommodate them! Second Chance also accepts our donations when they are not sold, which also creates a great feeling knowing that the items are going somewhere else for an amazing cause!

We had such a great experience with Second Chance who came in before our demo team to reuse, resell and properly dispose of more than 60% of a house we were tearing down. They were so helpful and responsive and amazing communicators. They were conservative and realistic with their estimate of how much of our structure they could use/reuse - and then we were so pleased when they were able to take even more. From start to finish, such a smooth, well-run organization. Highly recommend them!

We had Second Chance perform a deconstruction of our house and they did a fantastic job. The crew members were polite and courteous, they kept the job site very neat and clean, and started and finished the job on schedule. Great job!

I’ve been to Second Chance many times and LOVE it. Great prices on some nice pieces. Never know what you’ll find there. And I love they’re giving both people and things a second chance.

Second Chance is an amazing Baltimore treasure! I could spend hours wandering their huge array of materials. It's also a great place to volunteer!

I love Second Chance! I really enjoy this place as a new home owner. There is always something there for my home :)

Second Chance is a do-it-yourselfer's wonderland. I am on a limited budget and love going there not only to get fantastic quality for extraordinary prices but I get to see a world of priceless furniture, accessories and items that I would never see in regular retail outlets. I find myself wandering about just dreaming of where some of the products may have originated. Did they come from castles, mansions, famous people or exotic places. Such a vast array of different and unique produces. YOU HAD ME AT HELLO!!!

We are so lucky to have Second Chance in Baltimore. They provide our citizens with barriers to employment an opportunity to learn job skills, divert tons of useable materials from the landfill and help other non profits also get the way. Their mission...retrain, reclaim and renew should be adopted for our whole city. Love this place!

Second Chance does a wonderful job helping those with barriers to employment learn healthy, marketable vocational skills. In the process, they divert tons of debris from the wastestream and provide a treasure trovew of products to the public in their 200,000+ sq ft retail warehouse. They truly provide a win-win-win for Baltimore and beyond!

From start to finish, Second Chance provided an amazing experience for our group! I worked with KC to plan this event and work out the details for the day - every step of the way she was positive, response and best of all EXCITED! Because of this, for me (as the coordinator) the day was a breeze! For our volunteers, they had such an amazing experience working with all of the Second Chance folks, learning about their experiences and most importantly - putting in some work! We received such high praise from our volunteers about Second Chance. They loved that they got to do some real work and left feeling like what they did made a difference. I would highly recommend Second Chance for a group, ours was about 30 people and we were broken up into smaller groups, which worked well! Thanks, Second Chance, for such an important mission and sharing it with us for an afternoon!

Second Chance is a phenomenal social enterprise, located in the heart of Baltimore yet extending it's influence up and down the East Coast. How many organizations can boast that they provide a second chance for people, for products, and also for the planet? It seems that everything they do, from their massive store to their friendly donations team to their engaging social media, is done with excellence. I can't recommend them highly enough!

2nd Chance did a great job! Although I was not there during the deconstruction, my contractor was very pleased with their performance.

I was wary of using this charity because I had never heard of them and we, being located in Colorado, don't usually contract with a company half way across the U.S. Their performance on the site changed my mind completely. The six man crew they sent was absolutely outstanding, if I could think of higher praise I would give it. They were some of the hardest working, best attitude men I have had the pleasure of working with in 35 years of construction. 100% endorse them and I have shared my story with many in the building community in Colorado.

I love this place and its mission statement. They have an ever changing, huge inventory of furniture, appliances, art, and miscellaneous items (today I saw a small canoe size boat and a hot tub).

Items used for filming movies and tv shows as well as historic pieces find their way there as well as furnishings from demolished homes.

For those who donate you get a tax break and for patrons you're helping support training for their employees, many of whom are getting a second chance in the working world and in life due to previous convictions.

The staff is always ample, working together from fork lift operators to sales people to those assisting on the floor to bring items from the display areas located through out the ware house to the loading dock.

Parking is never an issue and you could spend hours there strolling up and down the aisles created by all the goods!

Prices vary but are fair and there are three prices based on the date. For example if an item isn't sold by the dates listed the price goes down. They have sales and holiday shopping prices too.

If you're looking for great items that you won't find anywhere else, and things with a story and character this is your place.

I would go every weekend if I could. The bathroom isn't the cleanest and it's cold because it's a huge drafty Ware house but other than that no complaints.

As you shop it's best to claim items by getting a salesperson to write up a ticket and have it moved to the loading area. Cash or card accepted.

We are so excited to make our own dining room table with lumber and materials we bought today.

Second Chance is an incredible asset to the Baltimore City community. Its three-fold approach of retraining, reclaiming, and renewing uniquely tackles problems central to the area with its dual mission to recycle furniture and provide job training.

Additionally, the employees that I've interacted with are so invested in the mission and have been really great to work with. Thanks to Second Chance for everything it's doing to better Baltimore City!

They may do a lot in the world of non profits but the customer service is terrible and when contacted about issues you get a pre composed response telling you to what any normal person would if an issue arises and ask for a manger. Having items sold out from under you and waiting 45 minutes for a sales rep is insane.

I just completed a fantastic experience working with Second Chance. After deciding to do a complete tear down on the lot I own in Norther Virginia I contacted Second Chance. I wanted to promote two important causes including the environmentally friendly reuse of the materials of my tear down and as well as to help enable construction related skill building of their staff members at the same time.
They were very professional, prompt, responsive, and easy to work with. They understood the inherit schedule changes in any major construction project. They were very flexible with the scheduling of their work and even accommodated some last minute changes to make sure my construction project could proceed ahead of schedule.
I would definitely recommend Second Chance for anyone who is thinking of tearing down an existing structure. They are pro's! Thank you to Second Chance and all the great people who make this charitable organization thrive!

Beyond my expectation! I had heard great things, so my expectations were high, but even still, I rate 11/10. The job was done perfectly, the site was left immaculate. Furthermore the guys were polite, courious, respectful to my neighbors, extremely maticulous and very hard working. Job was done in under 2 weeks including falling on a holiday. The guys even helped me move some heavy furniture that I needed to store on site from the garage. What an amazing operation. Couldn't give a higher recommendation from start to finish (appraisal through completion). Thanks Ryan M and Gene M for your accessibility and hand holding throughout.

I am a case manager working to help the formerly homeless in Baltimore City. One of the barriers we confront is getting furniture for extremely low income families once they are housed. Since partnering with Second Chance I have been able to supply furniture to over 40 families in need in a year's time. Second Chance has been my miracle maker. Thank you!

Second Chance has been my favorite destination for vintage stuff treasure-hunting for years. Last week, I had the pleasure of having them come to pick up half a houseful of furniture, art, lamps, etc. Scheduling was a breeze, the crew was on time, and the guys (crew of three) were fast, careful, courteous, and super professional--truly a joy to work with. I could not be more impressed or recommend Second Chance more both for shopping and for donating. Thanks so much, guys.

Second Chance Inc. is a place that provides meaningful benefits to the Baltimore area: opportunities for community members struggling to find gainful employment, preservation of the historic architectural heritage of the City, and environmental stewardship through diversion of one of the largest streams of landfill waste: Construction and Demolition.

Besides these instrumental benefits, Second Chance is a wonderful place to shop and visit! In their 600,000 square foot warehouse you can find anything you need for your home from a full kitchen or bathroom to an interesting conversation piece to a lovely antique chair or sofa....and all at great prices!

If you are thinking about donating any furniture, books, or other material, look no further than Second Chance Inc.!

Second Chance is an unbelievably impressive organization. For anyone interested in historic preservation and those interested in helping our local community, this is the place for you. You will find historic details from old homes that you cannot find in todays market. Doorknobs, mantels, bathtubs....the list is endless of the unique pieces you will find.
Why buy new when you can use pieces from the past ready for you?
Seeing the overwhelming amount of inventory the warehouse holds and knowing the amazing group of people who worked to fill the warehouse is a good feeling as you shop. Second Chance gives people who are looking for work and to improve their future, the opportunity to learn a trade and to give them the confidence to move forward with their lives.
Go see for yourself this impressive business!

As an architect in Baltimore, I am thrilled to have such an amazing resource. I have found many hard to find historic elements for reuse as well as period pieces for projects, doors and trim to match, etc. Not only does this place help restore the community and offer jobs and jobs training, it helps restore the architecture of the city! The staff and employees are always helpful and friendly. The facility is like a museum and a great place to explore! If you haven't been to visit, you should put this place on your list!

I am amazed each time I go to Second Chance that they have the amazing amount of inventory they have! The selection is fantastic, prices are fair and the employees are very accommodating. I have had a great experience every time I have visited Second Chance - looking forward to going back - I always find a treasure!!!

This is a warm and grateful thank you for another successful experience with Second Chance. From the first phone call to [Nick Redfurn] a week ago, to the final wave farewell to the Crew as they headed back to base this afternoon, this has once again been a thoroughly satisfying experience. Thank you, Nick, for setting the tone with your cordial efficiency, clear communication and special efforts to accommodate us on relatively short notice.

I want to extend my respect and gratitude also to today's crew, Team Leader Luis and his Partners, Raymond and Allan. Luis was thoroughly mission-focused, organized, efficient and jaw-droppingly strong! Raymond and Allan were conscientious, professional, meticulous and efficient. I especially appreciate how respectful each member of the team was of each other, and certainly of me. Fine gentlemen in every respect, each one. My only regret is that time did not permit them to stay and enjoy the lunch I had prepared for them, but they were pressed to get back to base. I guess I will need to come visit you all in Baltimore if I want to socialize with you!

Since we first learned about Second Chance in the winter of 2016, we have recommended you to everyone we know. Much of our involvement with your organization has been the result of heartbreaking losses in our family. But among the "collateral beauty" in such losses is certainly the positive experience of learning about you, working with you, and knowing that the "things" which hold great meaning but no longer much purpose in our family can have new life and new purpose because of the work you do. Second Chance matters to our community greatly, and the good you do ripples outward endlessly in ways we may never fully know, but can always believe in, and be grateful for. My family thanks you for your commitment to your mission, and for giving us all a Second Chance to repair this broken world with love.

With respect and gratitude,
Deena

Thanks to Second Chance for sharing the beautiful stories of how your business operates in the email blast you sent out. The thoughtfulness and respect for families, personal heirlooms, and for placing the meaning/emotion of objects over the profit of them is truly impressive. The whole of the work done at Second Chance is such an inspiration. If more businesses operated with these values the world would be a better place.

We come in often as we are working on some projects. We always g we t the help we need right away and the help is always courteous. Reggie worked with us this past Saturday. June 18'2016. Reggie went out of his way to help us find everything we needed and more. Thanks Reggie for a great experience. Linda and Ed.

Second Chance is truly an amazing place! Sure the physical plant is a playground for anyone interested in building, improving, furnishing or decorating their home. With 200,000 sq ft of "Cool Stuff" to pick through it is easily a day trip!....and a day trip worth making!!!! Get there early, wander around til luchtime, take a break to eat at any of the wonderful eateries in South Baltimore, Fed Hill, the Harbor...possibilities are endless. Then, return for the afternoon to finish wandering and shopping through the building materials, furniture, architectural oddities and treasures.

BUT ! ! !

Second Chance is SO MUCH MORE than a great place to find great stuff, HOW much of the treasures get to 1700 Ridgely Street are what really set this organization apart, in my opinion. The men in "the field" deconstruct homes...and learn construction through deconstruction. Any useable part of a house that can be salvaged and still has value, will be removed and transported to their warehouse. Second Chance provides a place to get a SECOND CHANCE for people who have made mistakes that are often barriers to employment. Second CHance offers the deconstruction workers training not only in OSHA, Financial Literacy, and other construction related fields, but also provide a place to learn a good work ethic.

What an amazing place!!! The entire team, from the director, to administrative support, donations, deconstruction and the retail division has it down. Baltimore, and us who live here, are lucky to have this organization !!

Second chance does incredible work for the Baltimore community. Their concern for our lived environment exceeds all other similar organizations, as they so amazing things to divert waste and reuse these items. Most importantly, however, Second Chance is doing much needed work for the returning citizens in our community. In the era of mass incarceration in America, programs the focus on reentry to reduce recidivism are essential to break the toxic cycle. The job training programs and general compassion for their employees that Second Chance provides is an essential services for our entire society.

What a TERRIFIC organization! Our school's Mothers' Club researched dozens of non-profits to donate our time and resources and Second Chance was at the top of our list. The staff was friendly and extremely thankful for our volunteerism. Plus, we heard from an employee with a wonderful success story about how the organization helped him learn a trade and new skills. The founder, Mark Foster was genuine and teared up...even after hearing the story multiple times. I highly recommend Second Chance for volunteerism, donation of items, and shopping. THE BEST!

From the folks who make the smart environmental choice for deconstruction of their home, to the public that loves the incredible range of products for sale in the warehouse (quirky to historically accurate to just-plain-good-deal), to the donor community, to the amazing volunteers, to the very fine men and women (the youthful as well as the wise in years) who do the day-to-day, on-the-ground work ... SECOND CHANCE is an amazing testimony to what can be accomplished when community comes together! It's an organic collaboration that unites people from literally every walk of life ... a model for what's possible. Five stars, y'all! Five stars!

WOWZA! This place is HUGE! If you are looking for unique, thrifty finds for the home, this is a great place to start (and hopefully, end). There's everything from antique coffee tables and light fixtures to vintage dressers and armoires. You can also find reclaimed items like faucets and yes, even the kitchen sink.

The space is M A S S I V E - massive and cold, so bundle up! I swear, it's colder indoors than it is outside. Don't say I didn't warn ya. Make sure you have some time to really spend here too, because you are going to want to explore every corner. A fabulous shop and a great mission. What else can you ask for?

Second Chance's amazing mission to provide training and experience to those re-entering the job market is only one third of the story. They have placed countless workers into permanent jobs after their training, but have also saved so much material from entering the waste stream. Literally tons of material each and every day. And if that's all they did, that would be noteworthy. BUT, they Second Chance store in Baltimore offers everything from barn wood to fine glassware and treadmills to valuable art and antiques. Their enormous showroom offers something for every taste and in every price range. And all the proceeds start the cycle over again. I highly recommend Second Chance, Inc.

Second Chance fills a void like no other type of enterprise could. It does double duty by making unwanted or unloved items desirable again, and giving some young people the opportunity to make themselves useful, as well. The vision that Second Chance began with is still a vital part of making our city the unique, historical, and green place that it should be! Reuse, recycle, retrain - makes all the difference.
We love the place, and appreciate all the effort that has gone into making it just what it is - a haven for items that may not have seen the light of day, a gorgeous place to shop, and a place to restart lives! Thanks, Second Chance, to all of your volunteers, workers, and even the shoppers! Bravo!

As a customer, volunteer, and student I have benefitted from Second Chance. This nonprofit touches the community it works in in so many far reaching ways. From diverting waste to providing opportunity, to being a cheaper and funkier alternative to Ikea for students in the area, Second Chance in unique and effective in what they do. Baltimore is without a doubt a better place because of Second Chance!

Great place. Great group of people. Have never gone here and left empty handed. Highly recommend to others.

Amazing Customer Service!! We needed help with Coffee Bags and Chuck was right there to offer his services today!! Could not have started out project without his Amazing help! All the employees there are always so helpful! We are repeat customers! Quality items at amazing prices!!! Thank You for being such a Huge part of Baltimore!!!!!

Second Chance Inc. is an incredible organization. They have designed a socially, environmentally, and financially sustainable system. Their organization takes individuals who are chronically out of work, a huge problem in post-industrial Baltimore, and gives them the training and support they need to develop lifelong habits to succeed as workers, as community members, and as individuals. I have heard countless anecdotes about individuals who work for Second Chance who's lives were diverted from drugs, crime, or poverty simply because they were given a chance to escape that system and to grow through Second Chance's training program and eventually to thrive.

Second Chance is also incredibly environmentally friendly. They divert a massive amount of C&D "waste" from landfills whose capacity is quickly running out. Instead individuals who are interested in constructing and furnishing their homes in environmentally friendly and/or less expensive ways can do so with quality materials that have been rescued from being wasted. As our society begins to realize we do not live on a planet of infinite resources and starts searching for alternatives to the wasteful consumerist pursuit of the next new thing, I can only imagine the popularity of stores such as Second Chance will skyrocket.

Finally, while accomplishing these significant and important goals for a nonprofit, Second Chance Inc. has managed to be financially sustainable as well! By offering tax credits to donors and then being able to carefully salvage quality items which are displayed in an aesthetically pleasing warehouse, Second Chance has managed to be profitable independent of donations and subsidies, an incredible feat for a young nonprofit. Their business has grown by leaps and bounds and shows now signs of stopping.

In short, Second Chance Inc. meets and exceeds the three criteria for socially responsible investing and any investment in growing their company or expanding their business model would be a worthwhile one.

Great place for unique pieces and the staff is great! Incredible mission of re-using items and caring for people so that they can receive job skills and hope. Nice of them to be open on Sundays after the Raven's games too ;-)

It's a sustainable ecosystem. A donation to Second Chance goes so far and makes such a huge difference! As an organization with the foresight and commitment to connect the dots between labor, learning and job opportunity as well as the green economy Second Chance has created a non-profit approach that is enduring and powerful. Fabulously de-constructed, quality materials and recovered items offer an opportunity to beautify in addition to lowering your carbon footprint. All around, very impressive!

As a former dual-manager at Second Chance I can say that they are one of the most caring, supportive organizations I have ever worked for. They are invested in their staff and provide opportunity and training for advancement not only professional but personally as well! In my current employment role I continue to work in partnership with Second Chance to place deserving individuals with employment and training opportunities so that they too can have their "Second Chance"!

I visit and support Second Chance as often as possible, I always find amazing things and leave with not only different pieces but lots of inspiration. The staff and crew are exceptional! Friendly& helpful always!! The work they do for the community and its people is to be commended!

Second Chance, Inc. is an amazing place! We began originally to find time period piece for our 1929 Baltimore rowhouse. The one thing that stands out is the customer service. From the time we walked in we couldn't have asked for better customer service. We have been back many times (often for things we didn't NEED but had to have) and are always amazed at the level of friendliness and helpfulness of everyone there - even when we are just wandering around.

Amazing place to find that item you really need to enchance your home. At a fantastic price too! Great customer service! The gentleman that was helping me ran out of the item I needed. He told me where to go to get it. I bought some items from Second Chance and I am totally satisfied with them!! A+++++++++++ I am a loyal customer for life!!! And Thank You for the free old window out front. You are truly an asset to the community of Baltimore and Maryland!!

I am renovating my home and wanted to do so in an environmentally friendly way. I stumbled upon Second Chance about a year ago. This is one of the best second hand stores that I have ever visited. Their warehouse is huge and their inventory changes daily. Their prices are incredibly competitive and with most items they will provide further reductions where they can. I live in Montgomery County but visit the store at least once a month in person and check out their website weekly to see the new items they have gotten it. For items that they have difficulty selling, they will a few times a year place those items in their parking lot for free. I strongly encourage you to visit this store, you won't be disappointed.

Hello,

I came to Second Chance looking for 1960 props for my son's middle school play "Hairspray".
I've received an excellent customer service by Nate Butler, one of the sale person working on the floor.
Nate patiently took the time to help me find the material I needed; he was very courteous and professional.
We finally found a piece I needed for the school - plus a little gift for a friend - all at a super price!

Awesome experience! Bravo Nate!

Sonia T.
nutella0865@gmail.com

My custom home builder recommended Second Chance to do deconstruction before the demolition work. I am glad to have this opportunity to work with your company. The deconsturction work recycled useful materials in stead of dumping to the landfield. I am pleased to see the cherry wood floor got reused. It also provides on site job training. What a fantastic job your crew has carried out! I am very impressed with the professionalism your crew has displayed, the quality of work to maintain the site clean and in order. Also your management process has made the entire process easier to the home owner. Thanks!

I hired Second Chance to do a reclamation and demolition of a small cabin at our new property about an hour north of Baltimore in June of 2013. I had heard about them through a friend that used their services for a project in Bethany Beach, Delaware that was very satisfied.

The team was focused and really took pride in their work, and I could not have been more pleased with the work that was done with all hand tools.

Would highly recommend this organization for anyone considering using their services and helping to develop and train future construction workers in all aspects of this line of work.

See article below written in the local Chester County paper:

http://www.chestercounty.com/2013/06/25/9058/deconstruction-project-program-visits-landenberg

Stan L

Second Chance is an incredible organization filled with some of the most friendly, hard-working people I've met. By offering a second chance to people struggling with other employment options, Second Chance offered jobs to those in the community who would otherwise be turned away. This is something inspiring; I think every company should take steps to follow their lead. I learned so much from volunteering at Second Chance and have such a large amount of respect and excitement toward the whole organization. They are doing great things for the community!

We were actually looking for "demolition"services when by pure luck we came across Second Chance. We used Second Chance to perform a complete deconstruction of our home. Watching a house taken apart piece by piece was amazing enough, but knowing many of the materials would be re purposed made us feel good about the decision. Every member of their staff we worked with was professional and it was easy to tell they were passionate about their work. My only regret is we don't have another house they can deconstruct!

SO many possibilities and awesome finds at Second Chance! Not only are there great things there, they do great things for our community! That is what it is all about.

We recently bought 800sq ft of reclaimed flooring for the renovation of our 1947 farm house . And could not be any happier with the product or the fine customer service . The buying ,loading ( sub zero day) was flawless. we will be back for other items and just wish you were closer we would be there every weekend !

The nonprofit I work for, BARCS, recently had our first Canine, Feline, Drink Wine, fundraising event at Second Chance. It was a big success thanks to everyone @ Second Chance and all their hard work.Special shout out to Elizabeth McMonagle who went way beyond helping us. She is great.

It was the pleasure of Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) to be the first nonprofit to hold our wine tasting in Second Chance's new and fabulous event space. The venue is as fantastic as their employees! They deliver top notch customer service and bent over backwards to help us with anything and everything we needed. We were thrilled to be able to bring 300 people to shop Second Chance while attending our event! Thank you Second Chance for hosting BARCS and allowing us to raise funds to give so many of our neglected and abused cats and dogs a second chance at finding a loving home!
JoAnn Goldberger
Director of Development
BARCS

As an interior designer and a big fan of Second Chance, I encourage all my clients to donate everything they can from their renovation projects to Second Chance. Not only do my clients get a tax write-off, they get a savings on their contractor's fees when the professional staff from SC comes to the site and picks up everything being donated for free. This is a win-win situation for everyone. My clients are always so excited to learn about Second Chance they actually go around their homes and look for everything they can possibly donate to help support the cause of Second Chance.

As far as non-profit social enterprises go, Second Chance Inc. gets it. Their mission from the start has been to create jobs -- and they have succeeded in creating jobs that cannot be exported! They employ people with barriers to employment - be it prior incarceration or a low educational level -- and given them a second chance. It provides a second chance to great building materials and items that would otherwise be demolished, diverting tons of waste from the landfills -- even rescuing significant architectural elements at times! I may be biased because I do provide consulting and advice to the company, but from the outside looking in, the company's growth in 10 years has been phenomenal, from an idea to now employing over 100 people -- outstanding from any measure.

A lady told my husband about Second Chance while he was in Lowes, and when he got home, we looked it up and took a ride over. What a fantastic experience!! Everywhere we looked, possibilities !! Old things, reclaimed wood, desks, chairs, marble, furniture !! We wished we had more money; we wanted everything!!! Love this place; we come every month or so, and it's always changing and improving. The staff is so accommodating, so professional, so helpful and polite!! The cashiers are very happy and polite, and the whole experience is just so satisfying !! We highly recommend Second Chance !! You feel good knowing you are helping them help others and recycling too !! A+++++++ !!!

Second Chance is exactly that, a second chance for ex offenders who are trying to secure a future, for housing artifacts and supplies that can be reused or repurposed and a place for everyone to contribute to their society and world. We have sought out Second Chance for everything from Driveway gates to drawer handles. We start there in our numerous searches for the usual and the unusual. The staff has been very helpful and more than competent. A great choice!

Second Chance has some great talent! The amazing things that they do to repurpose items is great!

College Manor, an Assisted Living in an historic building in Lutherville, has been in the process of renovating and refurbishing the common spaces. We called upon Second Chance for two parts of this project. They took away two truckloads of heavy furniture that was occupying valuable storage spaces and too heavy for our men to move from room to room. They then supplied us with period appropriate and perfectly gorgeous furniture that had been previously donated to them. The staff at Second Chance were outstanding, listening to our needs, finding exactly what we needed, and then supplying the truck and the manpower to make this complete. It was an experience I would repeat in a minute.

Bought a Lazy Boy Swivel arm chair in 2008, for a very good price, the man that waited on me (helped me with questions) in the warehouse was great. Chair is real nice , but need another one soon. Will be back !!!!

Second Chance truly gives those with "obstacles to employment" a second chance at a career. Looking past what paper may say, they give individuals with dedication and detemrination a chance to make a better life for themselves and their families.

What is even better, not only do they serve the individuals, giving them skills in the deconstruction field, they are saving building materials from ending up in the landfill by selling it to those of us looking to bring a bit of architectural history into our home.

Good work Second Chance!

As avid do-it-yourselfers, we typically have some construction project going around our home. Second Chance is an incredible resource to anyone interested in saving money, adding a unique touch to building projects, and especially those of us committed to reusing valuable materials and keeping them out of the landfill. It's a good feeling to accomplish all of the above, but even better to know that the materials are part of a much more important mission - helping people put their lives back together by learning a trade and gaining self-respect. Plus, it's just downright fun! Sometimes I love just wandering around in their warehouse to see what cool stuff came in this week. And the guys on the floor are all super helpful and engaged in what they do. Their pride in their organization and in their ability to be of help shows through every time.

Second Chance is in the process of deconstructing a house in our neighborhood and I have been thoroughly impressed with their work. My daughter and I walk by the site on our way home from her preschool and we have both been fascinated to watch the process and the foreman has been very kind in explaining the process to us. It is incredibly heartening to know that the materials will be re-used. Houses in our neighborhood are being demolished to make room for bigger homes at an astonishing rate and I'm always nauseated by the waste as I see the materials carted off to the dump. This organization truly is a win-win-win for the people receiving job training, the community and the environment. Keep up the good work!

We hired Second Chance to remove our kitchen. It is good to know the kitchen can be re-purposed while eliminating landfill waste. Most importantly, it is uplifting to know this organization provides employment opportunities to our community while saving reusable items. Thank you Second Chance!

It is a great experience to be able to help guide the direction of rapidly growing organization that is committed to making a difference in the communities it serves and acts as a role model for other organizations across the country. Not only am I a member of the board, but also a donor and a customer.

We discovered 2nd Chance through a neighbor and donated an old farm house. The 2nd chance process and charity really is a win, win, win. In our case the old farm house was in need of significant repair and update. Our win was that the 2nd chance process made the most sense environmentally and financially and was the best option for us. Environmentally and financially working with 2nd chance most of the house was reclaimed. This kept many tons of material out of the local land fill. The win for 2nd chance as we see it was the opportunity to show case their deconstruction process, provide valuable training to labors, reclaim and resell salvaged material. Finally, the 2nd change labors win by receiving hands on training and the opportunity to be part of a team that is making a difference within the larger community both environmentally and financially. We were very satisfied with the level of effort to reclaim material and the care that was taken to minimize disturbance to home site. In addition, communication during to process was handled by the site foreman and project manager and was clear and concise. We are very satisfied with the process and results.

I am a homeowner in the DC metro area and used Second Chance to reclaim as much of my house as possible before demolition. My floors, appliances, cabinets, sinks, toilets, windows, framing, furnace, etc. were reclaimed. I minimized my environmental impact, helped provide jobs, and felt very good about the quality of work and cleanliness of the job site with Second Chance. I can say with confidence that using Second Chance was an overwhelmingly positive experience and I would suggest anyone who is doing home renovation to consider the benefits Second Chance provides to both the environment, the economy and the area.

Our company was developing a property located not too far from Second Chance's offices and showroom. After learning of their mission, we were very supportive of their organization, as it not only helps people in need get job training and skills, but it allows building materials to get reused and repurposed, which is an added bonus. The people we have worked with have all been tremendously friendly, caring, and knowledgable and we won't hesitate to work with them again many times in the future.

I have been with Second Chance Inc for almosta year now and it is a good place to be. I love the great sense of comradery there is amongst my co workers, it feels like a sense of family. We all work hard & play harder and enjoy, respect and value each other. The company itself is very goal oriented and they like to give back to the community. It is a great place to learn and what you learn, no one can ever take from you. Second Chance is the place just for that.. learning skills, learning values, learning belief in yourself.

Antonio Johnson



Poverty can lead to success


Poverty was a major issue for me. Growing up I could not afford the basic necessities
required to survive. As a result I did things that hindered me from becoming successful. Due to
poverty I was not educated about safe sex. At the age of fourteen I conceived my first child. I
didn’t want her to experience my hardships, so I began to set forth some positive goals for
myself and set a positive example for my children. Second Chance gave me the opportunity to
expand my potential and excel to higher positions. This organization has helped me reach into
my inner self and grasp a part of me that I never knew existed. Because of high rates of
joblessness and incarcerations among black men success is very rare. I knew if I didn’t strive for
the best I would never see positive results. For the three years I’ve worked for second chance
I’ve been an inspiration to everyone I came in contact with. It makes me feel good to know I can
make people smile it lets me know I’m doing an outstanding job. I’ve learned how to
communicate on a professional level, be responsible, reliable and dedicated. I became a
supportive fiancé, a superior father of six and a well mannered and respectful gentleman. Second
Chance has been nothing but great to me and my family. I holly recommend anyone who I feel is
serious about their future.

As someone who has always recycled - even before there were programs to allow for curbside pick-ups - I have such respect for the innovative programs of Second Chance. Their retraining programs may be in Deconstruction and Reuse, but they also teach us a valuable lesson about ‘retraining’ our lifestyles to use reclaimed materials instead of creating more trash for overburdened landfills. Here is an organization that gives us all access to quality materials at low cost AND keeps these treasures out of landfills!

I've been working at Second Chance for about two years now and my overall experience has been very unique and life changing. It feels good to be apart of an organization that is not only creating jobs for poeple in the community, but is also making the earth a better place to live by keeping garbage off the street and out of the landfills. Before I found Second Chance, I had been in a bit of a bind because I had dropped out of college and could not find a job to save my life. Second Chance gave me that second life by taking a chance and hiring a young teenager with no life of work experiences. Second Chance, along with my dedication and hardwork, trained and molded me into the man I am today. The part of my experience that is going to stick with me most is our life skills training class. This class had been the last part of our six week training. In this class, we had learned how to solve problems on and of the job, how to handle different situations, time and money management and other things we needed for life. The part of the class that had stuck out to me most, was the discussions. We got the chance to discuss personal and job related situations that we had been faced with. Everyone would add input on how to approach and handle each obstacle. This was an excellent way to relieve stress, as well as to keep from being stressed. I have really enjoyed my time at Second Chance and I am pretty sure I am not alone. Second Chance to me does not only give a second chance to material, but also to people and dreams.

Second Chance is one of those rare organizations that has committed itself to a true triple bottom line. The workforce development program is addressing one of Baltimore's greatest social challenges, joblessness among those with barriers to employment. The totals tons of demo waste that is diverted from landfills and ultimately repurposed is a model for positive environmental impact. The thing I like most, however, is its ability to sustain itself financially; looking to the donor community for growth initiatives but not daily operations. I got such a good look at the dynamics of Second Chance as a consultant, that had to join the team. Jeff Carroll, former consultant now SC employee

Second Chance, Inc. has been there for the nonprofit organization, Fells Point Corner Theatre (FPCT) as the Go-To place for finding set pieces that would be too costly to purchase elsewhere. Many sets are of a time period that calls for detail, materials and craftsmanship that are beyond the budget of this theatre. At Second Chance, FPCT can find set building materials they could not afford otherwise AND recycle them back to the public by returning them to Second Chance when the production set is dismantled at the end of a show. We feel good about not adding to the mass of building waste in Baltimore and getting such wonderful assistance for the Arts from another nonprofit!!