Blog

Crystal Celebrates 5 Years at Opportunity House

Sep 13, 2024

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

Sep 11, 2024

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

Jul 29, 2024

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

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...

Souper Bowl

Jul 1, 2024

Come pick your pottery and sample all the soups with us on February 3, 2025 back at the Penn State Berks – Beaver Athletics & Wellness Center.

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...

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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 […]