Homeless Charities To Donate To

Opportunity House is one of the best homeless charities to donate to in Pennsylvania. Make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate with gifts of your cash, time, or possessions.

Opportunity House’s Mission for Good

Homeless Charities To Donate ToThe mission of Opportunity House is to provide the homeless population with housing and help. The shelter provides 24/7 emergency housing to about 500 clients each year. When donors support our work by giving their means, time, or goods, we can do more good.

Opportunity House opened in 1984, and over nearly 40 years, the extent of our services has expanded with our understanding of the causes of homelessness and the growth in our capacity.

Upon arrival, residents of Opportunity House receive a welcome kit of self-care products. We provide:

  • 24/7 shelter
  • Three meals and a snack each day
  • Shower and laundry facilities
  • Case management for targeted supportive services
  • Transitional and permanent housing

Opportunity House’s approach to addressing the obstacles to long-term housing includes the operation of the Second Street Learning Center and the OppShop retail thrift store. The learning center provides the residents with childcare that allows them to pursue training and employment, and it offers the youth of the community a foundation to help break the cycle of generational poverty.

OppShop, our thrift store on 5th Street Highway in Reading (Muhlenberg), PA, serves the community by providing gently used merchandise at significantly discounted prices. All of the proceeds from sales go toward the mission of Opportunity House, and the thrift store inventory is available for purchase by Opportunity House residents through a voucher system.

Methods of Supporting the Opportunity House Mission

Support is necessary for the mission of Opportunity House. Financial giving is the most direct means of support, and we gratefully accept the help of corporations and individuals. If you’d like to donate, you can do so online on a recurring or one-time basis, in your own name, in honor of another, or anonymously.

By mail, in-person, buying a ticket to a fundraiser, or however you choose to support Opportunity House, your gift will change lives. Since we operate as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, tax benefits come along with donations, but we encourage you to seek guidance from your tax professional.

Donations of your possessions can also help Opportunity House by providing OppShop with inventory. You’ll give your used products a second life, keep them out of the area’s garbage dump, and help your community by providing significant savings on needed items. We accept a plethora of product categories, including:

  • Furniture
  • Clothing
  • Books
  • Media
  • Shoes
  • Jewelry
  • Accessories
  • Dishware
  • Cookware

OppShop cannot accept items like chemicals, old electronics, building supplies, infant and toddler furniture, carpeting, tires, or tires because we can’t sell them. Items should also be clean, untorn, and in working condition.

Donate to OppShop at the drop-off center behind the thrift store, at donation bins throughout the county, or by pickup for large pieces of furniture.

The shelter also receives donations of items that we regularly use. If you’d like to make an in-kind donation rather than money, please give us a call to ascertain what item needs are urgent at the moment.

The final way to support Opportunity House is to donate your time. Our many needs mean we have a role that will utilize your skills well.

If you’re considering homeless charities to donate to, please choose Opportunity House.