NEWS RELEASE
August 4, 2025, Peapack, NJ – Thrifting offers countless benefits – from promoting sustainability to offering affordable options for students and others in need. A small but mighty thrift shop tucked behind a charming church in the heart of Peapack and Gladstone, NJ is making a big impact in the lives of the community’s most vulnerable residents.
Known as The Second Chance Thrift Shop, this small space holds a wide variety of gently used and new items donated by neighbors and people from near and far. New Jersey Monthly Magazine named it among the best thrift shops in 2022. The Second Chance Shop is operated by The Friends of Matheny – a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting programs and services for children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities at Matheny – a local school and special hospital.
This June, The Friends of Matheny presented a $150,000 check to Matheny to purchase brand-new furniture for the 101 residents on the Peapack campus. Since 1983, The Friends have donated more than $4.1 million in funding to support life enrichment experiences, equipment, educational supplies, and more.
“The Friends is an extraordinary group of volunteers,” said Nancy Hamstra, Matheny’s President and CEO. “Their dedication and generosity go above and beyond anything I have ever seen. The people we serve thrive and enjoy meaningful experiences thanks in large part to the volunteers at the Second Chance Thrift Shop.”
Kerry Conmy, recently elected as the president of The Friends, thanked the outgoing president, Debi DeLorenzo, saying, “I’m humbled to follow in the footsteps of such an incredible leader like Debi and I look forward to working with our amazing volunteers at The Shop. Words cannot fully describe the incredible work of The Friends board members and Shop volunteers.” Kerry’s son, Patrick, is a resident at Matheny and she is also the founder of Patrick’s Pals, a nonprofit organization that supports individuals with disabilities in the US and Costa Rica.
The Second Chance Shop is located at 4 Church Road, Peapack and Gladstone, NJ. The store is open on Mondays from 10am to 5pm, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am to 3pm, and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm. Donations of new and gently used items are accepted on Mondays with the exception of large furniture donations due to limited space. To become a member, volunteer, and donate to the Friends of Matheny, go to: https://friendsofmatheny.org/.
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Photo Caption (l-r): Nancy Hamstra, Matheny President and CEO; Debi DeLorenzo, The Friends of Matheny former President; Paul Frascella, Matheny Board of Trustees Chair; Kerry Conmy, The Friends of Matheny President; Dr. Vincent Barba, Matheny Vice President and Chief Medical Officer; and Brenda Patnick, Friends of Matheny Vice President.
About Matheny. Matheny’s mission is to provide exceptional care and an optimal quality of life for children and adults with special needs and medically complex developmental disabilities. Matheny is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and is headquartered in Somerset County. It was founded in 1946 after Walter and Marguerite Matheny’s son, Chuck, was born with cerebral palsy (CP) into a world ill equipped to care for children with special needs. Matheny patients have a diverse range of medical conditions and a wide range of rare diseases. Matheny is comprised of a special hospital, seven community residences, two adult day centers, a non-profit private special school, and the award-winning Arts Access Program. The Matheny Arts Access program enables individuals with special needs to take part in the visual, literary, and performing arts. To learn more about Matheny, visit us at http://www.matheny.org and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram: @mathenymedical.
