Earth Day isn’t just one day a year at Opportunity House, it’s every day, says Holly Wolf, marketing director for the nonprofit that provides emergency shelter, supportive housing, and other services for individuals and families in need.
The global effort celebrated yearly on April 22 serves as a time to promote sustainability, environmental stewardship, recycling and waste reduction.
These are practices employed by Opportunity House in its daily operations and through its Reduce, Reuse and Recycle initiative, Wolf said.
The program encourages area residents to donate unwanted, but still useable, items for resale at the nonprofit’s OppShop in Muhlenberg Township.
“We divert over 1 million pounds from landfills through our Reduce, Reuse and Recycle effort,” she said. “We recycle clothing, linens, metal, pallets, cardboard, leather, shoes, knick-knacks, books, music CDs and DVDs.”
All proceeds go toward operating Opportunity House’s shelter, 430 N. Second St.
Items in OppShop’s inventory that go unsold are directed to the shop’s warehouse, where they are sold during specially scheduled fill-a-bag sales or recycled through specialized recycling centers.
Unsold textiles at Opportunity House’s OppShop warehouse in Reading are bundled for recycling. (Courtesy of Opportunity House)
The shop’s selections also are available for purchase by Opportunity House clients through a voucher system.
Having the agency to personally select needed clothing and other items helps those rebuilding their lives also build confidence, shelter officials said.
“That shirt that just doesn’t fit well anymore might become the first clean piece of clothing someone has worn in months,” Wolf said.
Donated furniture, cookware, dishes, glasses and other household items might become the center of family life for a parent and children in their new apartment, she noted.
Opportunity House’s OppShop offers a large selection of books, music CDs and movie DVDs. (Courtesy of Opportunity House)
Donated goods should be clean and functional, without defects or stains.
Clothing, media, books, kitchenware, seasonal items, furniture, jewelry, flatscreen TVs, purses, tote bags, shoes and toys are accepted.
Opp Shop cannot accept chemicals, building supplies, older TVs, stereos, copy machines, computers and monitors, infant and toddler furnishings, tires, carpets, or any items with missing or broken pieces.
Donations may be made behind the OppShop, 3045 N. Fifth Street Highway, or at donation bins throughout the county.
A complete list can be found at opphouse.org/articles/dropoff-recycling-reading-pa/.