Blog
Jennifer Celebrates 20 Years at Opportunity House
Jul 9, 2024
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
Jul 1, 2024
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
Jun 27, 2024
“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.
May 8, 2024
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...
A Fighting Spirit to Overcome Homelessness-Opportunity House
Mar 19, 2024
“My mom taught me how to keep fighting and not to give up. My dad taught me to dream.” Those traits are part of her DNA that has helped her survive abuse, homelessness, and despair. Today, as Crystal is rebuilding her life, her internal motivation drives her while her...
Seeing Herself as a Homeless Woman–Opportunity House
Mar 13, 2024
When Amy* came to Opportunity House, she was looking for far more than shelter. She was looking to change her life. The biggest challenges she faced were her perceptions of homeless people. That’s what happened to addicts and lazy people—it wasn’t what she ever...
Meals Made with Love–Opportunity House
Feb 27, 2024
Making home-cooked meals is both her joy and her ministry. For Bernice Holmes Hopkins it started with Frances Powers, a fellow member at New Hope Baptist Church in Reading, PA asked her to help prepare a meal for Opportunity House. Mother Powers and other members of...
Kindness Coalition Works to Help End Homelessness–Opportunity House
Feb 27, 2024
John and Karen Arnold, Founders of Kindness Coalition share why they are passionate about helping others. They are dedicated to helping the homeless through their support of Opportunity House. Why did you start the Kindness Coalition and what is the purpose of the...
Reuse & Recycle at Opportunity House
Feb 9, 2024
One of the cornerstones of Opportunity House is its Reuse & Recycle Program. This program has helped to reuse, repurpose, and recycle over a million pounds of material including clothing, furniture, books, CDs, DVDs, shoes, belts, bedding, housewares, and small...
6th Annual Teddy Bear Trot Scheduled–Opportunity House
Feb 8, 2024
6th Annual Teddy Bear Trot Benefits Opportunity House Reading, Pennsylvania…On Saturday, February 10, at 10 am Berks County runners and walkers will begin the 6th annual Teddy Bear Trot sponsored by Fleet Feet, West Reading to benefit Opportunity House. Runners and...
SUCCESS STORY
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 died. Her children didn’t want him around. He was returning […]