Kate Alley, VP of Development at Opportunity House, talks with interns Erin Maguire and Elaine Atherholt . These girls worked both ends of the spectrum marketing the Opp Shop to seniors and students. Erin and Elaine share the benefits and lessons learned during their internship at Opportunity House.

Kate Alley interviews Chef Tim about his participation in the 14th Annual Souper Bowl benefiting Opportunity House. This event takes place at the Crowne Plaza in Reading PA on 4/18 at 5:30.

Carol Miller just can’t stop talking about Opportunity House. She is a board Member at Opportunity House but her service to this organization started back in the days when it was still the Reading Emergency Shelter. She recalls the days when the shelter only housed homeless men and takes us through the journey from inception as the South Of Penn Ministries to today. Carol attributes the continual expansion of services that Opportunity House offers to many of the churches in Reading...

The staff calls her a superstar and the kids call her Miss Bev. Kate Alley VP Development at Opportunity House and Robert Waters, the Daycare Manager talk with Bev Sanders, a superstar volunteer at Opportunity House since 2012. Robert says when Bev walked in to volunteer with the kids one day and quickly became family. Today she is in charge of arts & crafts for all ages. She helps kids make cool gifts for all the Holidays. Bev shares the stories of appreciation and surprise from...

Kate Alley introduces you to Marine Veteran Sid Samson. It was in the 1990’s when Sid first found himself homeless. He got assistance at the Reading Emergency Shelter, went to school and became a Certified Nursing Assistant. Sid went back to his hometown of Philadelphia and fell on hard times again. He recalled the love and assistance he received at the Reading Emergency Shelter so he returned. This time it was re-named Opportunity House. He talks about all the help he received through their...

Kate Alley and Delia McLendon talk with Tracy Boggs about her experience at Opportunity House. Tracy and her daughter found themselves homeless and went to Opportunity House for shelter. She left and came back again when she realized she needed support services. Tracy shares her success story. Through the assistance and resources she found at Opportunity House Tracy was able to set goals, go to school and get her life back together. Today she is self-sufficient, raising her 2 daughters...

Meet two interns from Kutztown University who chose to fulfill their internships at Opportunity House. Erin Maguire & Elaine Atherholt talk about what they are studying and the reasons they selected Opportunity House to complete their internship. Both have a public relations minor and they will be helping tell the story of all the facets of Opportunity House. One of the newest projects is ‘Opp Shop’. Erin and Elaine will be spending their time making sure the community knows about this...

Melissa Heydt is the VP Children’s Alliance Center does forensic interviews for sexually abused children. Using a multi-disciplinary team approach they schedule interviews with the child and his or her family in a very child friendly atmosphere. The Children’s Alliance Center works in tandem with law enforcement or Children and Youth Services. Usually see about 400 children a year between the ages of 3 and 18. Melissa has been in this position with opportunity House for about 3 years and...

Rob Waters are in charge of scores of children at the Daycare Center at Opportunity House. There are between 175 and 200 kids who attend the Second Street Learning Center. Rob started as an intern in school not realizing it would be his career. He attended school to be an architect and joined an architectural firm upon graduation. Rob went back to visit the people he worked with at Second Street Learning Center. He says, “The greeting he received from the children made him realize...

Delia McLendon started as a case manager at Opportunity House before moving into her current position as VP Shelter Services and Supportive Housing. Delia says, “Working here has made me more grateful for my blessings. Every night I go home I am just glad I have a key to open the door to the house where I live”. The first thing a person does upon arrival at Opportunity House is sign a self-sufficiency contract. Delia says, “during intake we ask you how are you going to get out of here. ...

Melissa Haydt, VP Children’s Alliance Center, discusses the services provided for sexually abused children. It has been 11 years since the center has operated under the umbrella of Opportunity House. Melissa says, “Each year the numbers of cases seem to go up. Since the Sandusky case more abuse cases are reported.” The benefit is the more that people are aware the more protection services can be put in place. Talks about the signs of abuse and the appropriate responses if there is a...

Robert Waters, the Daycare Manager, says “the Second Street Learning Center is a Keystone Stars Site … just like a hotel you can have up to 4 stars” The current rating is 3 stars. Getting the fourth star is all about staff education. Bachelor and Post Grad Degrees are necessary. Education of staff will add the 4th star to the Second Street Learning Center. All other criteria has been met , the post grad staff component is being addressed and the 4th star will be reached putting the Second...

Klover Custis, Dir of Supportive Services for Veteran Families at Opportunity House shares her passion for helping veterans and Marine Corps Veteran Orlando Harris is grateful for the assistance he received from Opportunity House. Klover and her team of case managers in Case managers in Berks Lancaster & Schuylkill Counties work diligently on outreach. They seek out veterans who are either homeless or in danger of becoming homeless in order to get them in stable housing or keep them in...

Premier Episode of Faces of Opportunity - Jo Painter talks to Delia F. McLendon, VP Shelter Supportive Housing, and Alice Dillman, House Manager about the lives they touch and the impact their services have on men, women and children.