If you like to shop and save money, thrift store shopping is for you, and OppShop near Temple, PA, allows you to do good for others while hunting for bargains.
Introducing OppShop
OppShop is a retail thrift store located at 3045 5th Street Highway, Reading, PA. Unlike many privately owned thrift stores, OppShop is part of a 501(c)3 non-profit, Opportunity House. The mission of Opportunity House is to provide the homeless with emergency needs along with supportive services to help them secure and sustain housing. We offer 24-hour shelter for the area’s homeless men, women, and families.
OppShop plays a vital role in support of Opportunity House. All proceeds from the thrift store go to the work of the shelter. Our residents can also use provided vouchers to shop within the thrift store, and the area’s residents, like you, find great deals on the products they need.
The reuse/recycle program of Opportunity House works through the operations of OppShop and the recycling warehouse through which we handle all the goods that don’t sell within the thrift store. Through this program, we have successfully recycled over 700,000 pounds of goods that would have otherwise been in a landfill.
Thrifting for a Cause
Thrifting is a way to save money, and many frugal families choose this avenue when they buy gifts, clothes, housewares, and other essentials. However, when you shop with OppShop, you get all the great products for less while also helping the most vulnerable of society.
New donations come in regularly, so it pays to stop in frequently to find the real gems before they’re scooped up.
A Fun Volunteer Opportunity
If you enjoy thrifting and want an excellent cause to support, consider volunteering at OppShop. Whether you’d like to greet customers, sort merchandise in the back, or stock shelves and hang garments, we can always use an extra hand and a positive attitude!
The store is open Tuesdays – Saturdays, from 10:00 in the morning to 7:00 in the evening. Of course, volunteering at OppShop isn’t the only volunteering opportunity we offer.
If you’d like to give of your time, but shopping is an anathema to you, consider these other options:
- Preparing and serving a meal
- Planning and volunteering at one of our fundraising events
- Providing a day of service
Clean Out and Donate
Yet another way that you can engage with OppShop and do good for the community is to donate gently used goods to the thrift store. Whether you’re a minimalist who regularly purges or a collector looking to pare down some of your possessions, choose to donate to a good cause.
Our donation center is at the back of the store, and we have bins throughout the community for convenient drop-off. If you have large items to donate, give us a call or schedule a pickup online.
Acceptable Donation Items:
- Men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing
- Media (CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Ray discs)
- Kitchen utensils and cutlery
- Dishware and cookware
- Holiday and seasonal decor and items
- Furniture
- Jewelry
- Flat-screen televisions
- Purses and bags
- Shoes
- Toys
Unacceptable Donation Items:
- Chemicals
- Older model console televisions and stereos
- Copy machines
- Building supplies
- Infant and toddler furniture
- Computer monitors
- Office chairs with four or fewer wheels
- Carpets
- Tires
The OppShop thrift store near Temple, PA, offers residents an opportunity to shop for a cause, volunteer in a fun environment, and donate gently used items to help the area’s homeless population. Learn more about the success stories of Opportunity House as you contemplate your next thrifting adventure.
