Second Chance Cars

We provide affordable cars to Massachusetts low-income veterans, healthcare workers, and returning citizens .

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SCC Launches Internal Co-op for Greater Lawrence Auto Tech Students

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A vocational school’s co-op program gives students a first taste of working in the real world and is high stakes: A student will either get excited about getting a job in their field of study–the definition of success for a vocational school–or not have a good experience and choose not to. In an attempt to best prepare auto tech students for success at a co-op, be it at a garage or car dealership, SCC has joined hands with Greater Lawrence Technical School to pilot a first-ever “internal co-op”. Six auto tech students were hand picked by their instructors in June to work full time during June and July fixing our cars and get paid for their labor.

While the work takes place at the school and under the supervison of their instructors, the pace of work is faster and the work is more demanding, simulating a car dealership environmnet. We interviewed one student, Gabby, after one week at the co-op and “so far so good!” See video link below for the full interview. A special thanks to Mike Oullette, Lead Auto Tech, who came up with the “internal co-op” idea, Superintendent John Lavoie and the school committee who approved it, and instuctors James Braga, Christopher Charles and Jason Jalbert for taking a week out of their summers to instruct the students.

Here is a link to the interview with Gabby: https://youtu.be/vKsj_fZUWZI

The program concluded with a special graduation ceremony held during one of our vehicle award events, where the seven students were recognized for successfully completing the inaugural internal co-op program. During the ceremony, Executive Director Dan Holin congratulated the graduates and thanked them for the dedication they showed throughout the summer, while Mike Ouellette, Lead Auto Technician and creator of the internal co-op program, reflected on the students’ growth and the value of hands-on learning. Each student received a Certificate of Graduation in recognition of their hard work and commitment, marking the successful completion of a program that provided real-world experience while helping prepare vehicles for Second Chance Cars’ award recipients.

Good morning, Medford, Tuesday, April 7

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by Wendall Waters | Staff Writer

Tuesday is a great day for a shout-out to Medford students.

Three Medford auto technology students were honored during the 4th Annual Second Chance Cars, Inc., Community Partner Dinner held on March 26 at Medford High School. In addition, many other students stepped up to support the event.

Second Chance Cars is a non-profit that partners with technical schools to have donated cars repaired or refurbished and then given to veterans, single parents, and people re-entering their communities after serving time. For students, the cars are a hands-on education. The recipients receive an affordable vehicle that will help them get a job or improve their current work situation.

During the March 26 event, senior Devon Santos and juniors Brayeny Araujo Nobre and Erik Antillon were each honored with a starter tool set to help them launch their careers.

In addition, Medford School Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Galusi said, students from a number of different departments provided support:

  • Auto tech students presented restored cars to two deserving women.
  • Culinary students prepared car-themes mocktails and appetizers.
  • Carpentry students built custom tables.
  • Film and TV production students captured photos and videos.  

Chad Fallon, who is Medford’s executive director of career and technical education, said he started the partnership with Second Chance Cars four years ago. In a write-up for the event, Fallon recognized the contribution of the Second Chance Cars Vocational Student Employment Fund.

“This fund is all about supporting students as they take that next step into the workforce,” he wrote. “For many of our students, the barrier isn’t skill or motivation—it’s access. Access to the tools, equipment, and resources they need to get started in the field.”

The SCC fund, he wrote, helps to remove that barrier by providing starter tools or uniforms or supporting driver’s education.    

“What I appreciate most is that this is about more than just tonight—it’s about setting students up for success beyond high school,” Fallon wrote. “It’s about giving them a real opportunity to enter the auto tech and collision fields with confidence and the right tools in hand.”

Second Chance Cars Receives the 2025 Climate for Freedom Award

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This past weekend, Second Chance Cars was honored to receive the Climate for Freedom Award, presented at the Concord Public Library by the Concord-Carlisle Human Rights Council. The award recognizes organizations that advance human rights, environmental responsibility, and community empowerment, and we are incredibly grateful to be this year’s recipient.

Dan Holin, SCC’s Executive Director, delivered a 30-minute presentation that brought the audience through the heart of our work. He shared the stories behind our cars, explained the unique partnerships that make our model possible, and highlighted the real world impact reliable transportation creates for low income workers. At the end of the presentation the room came to their feet expressing their support for our mission. Many guests stayed afterward to talk, ask questions, and connect with our team. 

A dependable car doesn’t just shorten a commute, it opens the door to higher-paying jobs, safer travel, access to childcare, consistent healthcare, and the ability to support one’s family with dignity. Every car we award ripples out into a lifetime of benefits, and events like this remind us how powerful that ripple truly is.

We’re grateful to the Concord Carlisle Human Rights Council for recognizing our mission and providing amazing pastries and tea for all guests, to the Concord Public Library for hosting such a welcoming event, and to everyone who came out to support us. The afternoon was full of heartfelt conversations, shared stories, and a sense of momentum that will carry us forward as we continue to grow.

Thank you to our donors, our school partners, our volunteers, our referring nonprofit partners, and the incredible community that makes Second Chance Cars possible. This award belongs to all of you, too.

Here’s to many more miles of freedom, opportunity, and second chances ahead.

Let’s get to work.

Second Chance Cars 2024 Impact:

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Driving Opportunity, Changing Lives

At Second Chance Cars, our mission is simple but powerful: to help hardworking people get to work by putting them in great, affordable cars. For our recipients, a set of car keys is more than transportation; it’s the start of a new chapter filled with independence, stability, and opportunity.

In 2024, we took that mission even further, awarding 44 cars, a 25% increase from 2023. Behind each car is a person whose life changed dramatically once the barriers of unreliable transportation were lifted.

From Commutes to Careers: Real Impact in Motion

Many of our recipients spend over four hours a day commuting by bus or train, sometimes even sleeping in stations just to make it to work on time.

Who We Serve:
  • 45% Veterans
  • 24% Returning citizens
  • 31% Single parents, refugees, and people in recovery
    (Many recipients fit multiple categories.)

Once they receive a car, everything changes.

Recipients in 2024 saw:

  • 88% increase in work hours (from ~19.8 to ~37.4 hours/week)
  • 75% increase in hourly pay (from ~$13.75 to ~$24.09/hr)
  • 123% increase in annual income (from ~$22K to ~$49K/year)

These numbers reflect something profound: access to reliable transportation transforms lives. It means a parent can work a full shift and still make it home for dinner. It means a veteran can accept a new job opportunity without worrying about missing the last train home.

Economic Ripple Effects: Building Stability and Equity

Beyond income growth, owning a car creates ripple effects throughout our recipients’ lives:

  • Improved financial health: The average SCC recipient begins with a credit score of just 521, yet nearly all pay off their car loans on time, rebuilding credit and unlocking new financial opportunities.
  • Housing security: 38% of housing-insecure recipients move into permanent housing within 12 months of getting a car.
  • Wealth creation: By paying only $900 for a $6,000 vehicle, recipients see a remarkable 670% return on investment, a rare opportunity to build equity while gaining mobility.

The Power of Partnerships

Our network of 10 nonprofit partners and 10 vocational schools makes this impact possible.

Nonprofit Partners:

● Community Resources for Justice 

● Gavin Foundation 

● Jewish Vocational Services 

● St. Vincent de Paul/ Concord Carlisle 

● Thrive Communities 

● US Courts 

● Veterans Affairs (3 sites) 

● Veterans, Inc. 

● Volunteers of America, MA 

● Women’s Money Matters 

Vocational School Partners:

● Essex North Shore Technical School 

● Greater Lawrence Technical School 

● Greater Lowell Technical School 

● Medford Vocational High School 

● Minuteman Career and Technical School 

● Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School 

● Northeast Metro Tech 

● Shawsheen Technical High School 

● Somerville High School 

● Worcester Technical High School 

The Road Ahead

With donations, partnerships, and outcomes all accelerating, SCC is driving measurable economic change.

Each car isn’t just a vehicle, it’s a catalyst for higher income, stable housing, and renewed independence.

Donate a car. Fund a future.
secondchancecars.org

Our Partnership with Amica Insurance

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Amica Insurance and Second Chance Cars (SCC) are partnering to build automobile collision students’ skills and help hard-working people in need get to work!

Amica Insurance will donate vehicles to SCC for collision students to work on that meet the specific educational requirements of participating vocational schools. Refurbished vehicles will then be awarded at the schools to veterans, returning citizens, single mothers, and other qualified participants approved by SCC so they can get, keep, and grow a living wage job.


Amica unveiled the first car selected for our program at our Vocational School Dinner: a 2010 Toyota Corolla! This car will be transferred to one of our partner schools for refurbishment. We’re excited to see the transformative impact it will have on the life of its recipient.

SCC Vocational School Dinner a Huge Success!

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Close to 50 attendees representing almost every one of our 10 partner schools came to North East Metro Tech for our annual Vocational School Dinner on Thursday night!

This dinner allows us to reconnect with the partners that enable us to carry out our mission, celebrate our accomplishments, and brainstorm ways to deepen SCC’s ability to give back to our local community!


Pictured above is NEMT Senior Luis, receiving the SCC Student Employment Fund Award from his instructor, Bob MacGregor. Also attending were representatives from Amica Insurance and the Village Automotive Group.

It was a great evening–here is a link to a slide show that captures some of the evening’s highlights. Thanks SCC intern Michael Boyd for the great photographs!