Second chances are built one shift at a time.
April Is Second Chance Month — and Giant Food Is Already Doing the Work
April is Second Chance Month, a national initiative shining a light on the barriers facing millions of formerly incarcerated Americans as they rebuild their lives. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser launched local celebrations on April 1, recognizing it as a city priority. But in the grocery aisles and distribution warehouses of the DC region, Giant Food has been putting that mission into practice for years — no proclamation required.
A Work-Release Program Built on Real Opportunity
Launched in 2022 in partnership with Dorsey Run Correctional Facility, Giant Food’s Second Chance Program places incarcerated men and women in career-track roles at its Jessup fresh-food distribution facility. Participants receive the same pay, overtime options, shift availability, and union benefits as any other Giant associate — no asterisks, no shortcuts. Since launch, 94 work-release participants have received career training and job access, 15 graduates have stayed on for full careers with Giant Food, and 11 participants are actively working in the program today!
The Numbers Behind the Mission
With 60 percent of formerly incarcerated people struggling to find consistent employment, structured, dignified opportunities like this one are rare — and necessary. Giant Food’s commitment runs deeper than workforce development. Through its Eliminating Hunger initiative, the company donates fresh food to support food security across the communities it serves, partnering with Feeding America — the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States — to reach tens of millions experiencing food insecurity. Giant is investing in the neighborhoods those shelves serve!
The Giant Food’s Second Chance Program is workforce development done right — honest, practical, and human. Second Chance Month gives this story a spotlight, but Giant Food’s commitment runs all twelve months of the year.
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