If you’re interested in giving donations to charities focused on low-income housing and homelessness, choose Opportunity House. As the emergency shelter of Berks County, PA, we supply a wide range of services that require a corresponding degree of assistance.
Opportunity House – Donation Worthy
The homeless population of Berks County finds shelter and supportive services at Opportunity House, continuing the legacy that began when we opened in 1984. Serving around 500 men, women, and children each year, we provide the basic needs of life – food, shelter, and hygiene.
Beyond essentials, we offer supportive services to residents. Each resident has a case manager and receives targeted assistance to help secure and maintain stable housing.
The work of Opportunity House has branched out over the years as we’ve tried to meet the needs of the shelter’s residents and those of the larger at-risk community. For example, our early childhood learning center and retail thrift store help our residents, but the greater community also benefits.
Early Childhood Learning Center
The Second Street Learning Center is a Keystone 4 Star Learning Center that welcomes children ages six weeks to 13 years old. We serve about 200 children annually, offering infant, toddler, PreK, preschool, school-age, and summer camp programs.
Thrift Store and Recycling Warehouse
OppShop, in collaboration with our warehouse, sets the stage for our reuse and recycle program. We accept donations of gently used clothing and household items, selling them at the thrift store and then recycling them through the warehouse if they fail to sell.
This store offers our residents a source for clothing, shoes, and other essentials, and it provides community members a place to buy items they need at lower than retail prices.
Guidelines for OppShop Donations
OppShop accepts donations through a few avenues. The primary drop-off center is behind the thrift store, and we’re open to receiving donations Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 am-6 pm. Our crew will help you unload your car.
We also have donation bins in numerous areas of the county where you can deposit CDs, books, DVDs, clothing, and shoes. They should be in a grocery-size bag; trash bags will not fit.
Donors can also call us or click here to arrange for the collection of large items of furniture.
Acceptable Donation Items:
- Men’s, women’s, and children’s apparel
- CDs, DVDs, and BluRay discs in original cases
- Kitchenware
- Holiday, seasonal, and home decor
- Furniture
- Accessories (jewelry, purses, bags, shoes)
- Small and large appliances in operable condition
- Flatscreen TVs
- Toys and stuffies
Unacceptable Donation Items:
- Chemicals
- Older electronics
- Building supplies
- Infant/toddler furniture
- Office chairs with fewer than five wheels
- Tires
Guidelines for Donating Time
Opportunity House offers various prescribed opportunities for volunteering time, and our team will happily arrange for you or your group to gift time. We welcome volunteers for meal prep and service; days of specific volunteering at the shelter; assistance planning and hosting fundraising events; and sorting, stocking, and greeting at OppShop.
Help Opportunity House fulfill our mission of sheltering and assisting the homeless population’s efforts to become stably housed.
Should you be interested in giving donations of time, money, or items to charities focused on low-income housing and homelessness, we at Opportunity House welcome your generosity. Explore the impact we’ve made as evidence of our donation worthiness by following this link.
