Employment Initiative:

Despite their dedication to seeking employment, it is a constant challenge for formerly incarcerated women.  Many struggle to find employers willing to hire people with criminal records. To address the need for employment, we are creating what will eventually become a self-sufficient business called Second Helping.  Second Helping will offer our clients a comprehensive workplace experience designed to provide substantial entrepreneurial training while enabling them to earn a living wage.  

About Second Helping: In its initial phase, Second Helping will prepare beautiful, healthy breakfasts and lunches from local produce.  In the first year, we will train clients to prepare and sell individual lunches in uptown Charlotte from a “green” mobile lunch truck that has been converted to run on biodiesel fuel. During the week, the Second Helping truck will provide a convenient, affordable, healthy and environmentally responsible option for workday lunch.  The truck, operational on the weekends and evenings, will also be available for festivals, as well as church and sporting.

We are in the midst of a fundraising campaign to launch Second Helping as early as August, 2011.