Last year we began a strategic planning process that changed the way we look at our organization, who we are and where we are going. We took time to look inside ourselves to answer the question: What is the big dream we share for our organization and for the people we...
How did you get involved with Opportunity House? My late husband Ray and I have been involved for two decades. We were drawn to the organization when we saw what good things were being done to help adults and children in Berks County. Everything Opportunity House does...
Like many 7-year-olds, Javien Ortega wanted a puppy or kitten for Christmas. But Javien has cystic fibrosis, a hereditary disease that affects his lungs, his mother, Sara Vidot of Reading, said, and a pet is not advisable. Javien understood Santa might not be able to...
Several years ago, their eyes locked across the garden area where our clients relax. Kevin had arrived at the shelter first; Monica, a month later. It was love at first sight, and their feelings were definitely not encouraged. “You’re not supposed to date here,”...
“We live here, we give here.” —Serge Szortyka, President, Quaker Maid Meats How and when did Quaker Maid get involved with Opportunity House? We’ve been donors since 1995, when your organization was still The Reading Berks Emergency Shelter. We wanted to help a local...
When did you start to volunteer at OppHouse? I (Jennifer Dinatally) started to think about doing “something” in the community 6 or 7 years ago. Because I love to cook, and food is love to me, I really felt pulled to serve meals here. I finally stopped procrastinating...
