Blog
Ed’s Story Of Resilience and Renewal–Opportunity House
Ed's Story: A Journey of Resilience and Renewal Ed worked at a cough drop factory, carefully monitoring the machinery that wrapped each drop. After his long 12-hour shifts, he returned to the mobile home he shared with his aging mother. “I moved in to help her as she...
Alvin’s Story: From Despair to Gratitude –Opportunity House
Alvin was never afraid of hard work. After growing up in Douglassville, Alvin began his career at Gudebrod in Pottstown. When the plant closed, he began working at Stanley Flagg. Eventually, he got a job loading trucks at Boscov’s Department Store. Alvin always...
Yesseina Vasquez Named Director of Patton Avenue Learning Center
Yessenia Vasquez Named Director of the Patton Avenue Learning Center Reading, PA – Opportunity House announced the appointment of Yessenia Vasquez as Director of the Patton Avenue Learning Center. A lifelong advocate for children and education, Vasquez is a proud...
Adrian Perez-Roman Appointed Director of S.M.I.L.E Program–Opportunity House
Opportunity House Announces Adrian Perez-Roman as New Director of S.M.I.L.E. Program Reading, PA – April 29, 2025 — Opportunity House announced the appointment of Adrian Perez-Roman as the new Program Director of S.M.I.L.E. — Skills to Master Independent Living and...
Beacon House Food Pantry Opens–Opportunity House
Opportunity House Announces the Opening of Beacon House Food Pantry to Serve the Community Reading, PA – Opportunity House proudly announces the opening of the Beacon House Food Pantry, a new community resource dedicated to providing nutritious food to individuals...
Opportunity House Receives Grant From Foxwynd Foundation
Opportunity House Receives $15,000 Grant from Foxwynd Foundation Contacts: Opportunity House: Holly Wolf, hwolf@opphouse.org, 610-463-5377 Foxwynd Foundation: Gloria Galvez, Grant and Partnership Manager, ggalvez@foxwyndfoundation.org 484-229-4329 Reading,...
Opportunity House Expands Services To Pottstown
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Montgomery County Announces New Short-Term Housing Solution for Those Experiencing Homelessness in Pottstown NORRISTOWN, PA—The Montgomery County Commissioners voted to approve an emergency hoteling program in Pottstown for individuals...
Alvin’s Story: From Despair to Gratitude –Opportunity House
Alvin was never afraid of hard work. After growing up in Douglassville, Alvin began his career at Gudebrod in Pottstown. When the plant closed, he began working at Stanley Flagg. Eventually, he got a job loading trucks at Boscov’s Department Store. Alvin always...
Stacy Celebrates 5 Years at Opportunity House
Name: Stacy Perlaki Title: Director of Development Family: Husband, Joel, and son, Zachary 5 Fun Facts about Stacy: Favorite Food: Pizza Your dream vacation spot: The Bahamas The App you can't live without: Apple Pay Least favorite household chore: All of...
Crystal Celebrates 5 Years at Opportunity House
Name: Crystal R. Department/Job Title: Assistant Director/Educational Specialist at The Second Street Learning Center Family: My fiance, Ryan, and my daughter, Abby. I also have a Great Pyrenees Mountain Dog named Luke and a cat named Ralph. Fun Facts about...
Kevaughn Ferguson Internship at Opportunity House
Kevaughn shares his internship experience at Opportunity House. He previously was part of the O'Pake Scholar program helping non-profits in Berks County. In the summer of 2024, he accepted an internship with Opportunity House. Interning at Opportunity House has been...
Hosting A Clothing Drive For Opportunity House
Giving Back: My Experience with Opportunity House's Clothing Drive by Katy Taveras In 2020, while finishing my last semester for my associate's degree in business management at Reading Area Community College (RACC), I was nominated for membership in The National...
Jennifer Celebrates 20 Years at Opportunity House
Name: Jennifer Stepp Department: Lead Teacher at the Second Street Learning Center Years of Service: 20 years Family: My sons, Isaiah, 22, Makiai, 13, and my daughter, Shyanne, 19. My gerbils, Splinter and Horse, and my 3 goldfish, Larry, Moe, and Curly. 5 Fun...
Mary Celebrates 15 Years at Opportunity House
Name: Mary Leon Department: Preschool Assistant Teacher at the Second Street Learning Center Years of Service: 15 Family: My husband, Gregory, Sr., my daughter, Jayliannie, my son, Gregory, Jr., my mom and stepmom, brothers, sisters, nieces...
Addiction Lead to Homelessness and Redemption–Opportunity House
“When is the bus stopping? I need a cigarette.” You'd expect to hear that from people who have an addiction to cigarettes. They don’t sound like life-saving words, but they were. When Terrance left Atlanta to return to Pennsylvania, he had no plans. His girlfriend...
Bianca Ruiz has been named Director of the S.M.I.L.E program at Opportunity House.
Bianca Ruiz has been named Director of the S.M.I.L.E program at Opportunity House. In this role, Ruiz is responsible for program development of the S.M.I.L.E program. This program is a key component of the Opportunity House Shelter Services. S.M.I.L.E. stands for...
SUCCESS STORY
When a Portable Toilet Becomes Home–Opportunity House
Imagine sleeping in a public portable toilet stall. For most, the thought would be unimaginable. For Michael, it offered a sense of security and a measure of protection from the elements. He managed to sleep in the stall and find some solace there. When he needed to take care of his personal hygiene, he was […]