It's a Gift has items that I haven't seen anywhere else, which really helps when shopping for…read moresomeone who "has it all". If you have someone for whom you just can't figure out what to give them as a gift, then this is the place to go! I've purchased several things there and have been pleased with the reaction on the receiving end because the gift items are very original. Also nice to know that a contribution to a local charity is made by It's a Gift on each purchase.

Wonder why they are always advertising to hire professional staff? The money is decent but the…read moreworking conditions are poor.

Not every community has such a place, so Berks County is fortunate -- although I hope you and your…read moreloved ones will never need it. BWIC offers shelter, legal services, many special events (including Camp PeaceWorks, a social justice camp for teens in the summer), and much more. When will it end? It's tragic that domestic abuse is still condoned and accepted by our culture in more ways than you would think. One amazing thing to see is how many enlightened men support this organization, work for its mission, and even occasionally march in high heels. Here is their latest event, a heartbreaking and compelling Silent Witness walk for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. These are lifesize silhouettes of those who have lost their lives due to domestic violence locally, and you will even see children and animals. http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Join-us-on-October-16th.html?soid=1103098300939&aid=xTbDRtnNUTA

I discovered the Opp shop while doing a thrift google search of the area. Little did I know it was…read moreliterally right down the street from a Goodwill I've been to twice. How convenient! It's located in a deserted, large shopping complex with the anchor store vacant. The lot is expansive and this store is on the end next to the large vacant property. For that reason I would be leery of going at night alone. Otherwise approaching I could see it was a store with a substantial amount of real estate. Furniture pieces were visible thru the window. I couldn't wait to get inside to explore. Is it the cleanest, most organized store? You can literally see dust balls float across the floor. No...but its full of vintage items as well as pickers. How do I know? You can witness them on the sales floor doing pricing research on their phones while holding tight to an item. I would guess that the majority of the customers were resellers. For that reason, if you see something you like, whether you think it's valuable or just valuable to you grab it. Take a look at that complete set of vintage mushroom canisters I came across. I know they are a highly desirable collectable. I left them for someone else to discover and enjoy. What I would consider highlights for this store is the furniture pieces. Large, small, new and old, like antique old (see pic). The large solid wood wall unit was complete with shelving and lighting and priced at only $299. I'm sure it was a few thousand new. If you dabble in decorative painting and furniture upcycling like I do you'll want to add this store to your thrifting stops. Housewares and decorative items were plenty and arranged better than some departments. I scored some great pieces in this dept that have been on my "thrift wish list "for some time. Toys, crafts, and misc were a huge mess, with piles on the shelves and on the floor without any consideration to order. Prices are very affordable, only a step above yard sale for most items. Linens were stocked well and included a lot of vintage and handmade pieces like crocheted afghans. Clothing was a miss for me. Although I did see they have dressing room the department was so full and clustered together I didn't feel like routing. Shoes I felt were priced high, one price depending on item (see pic) without consideration to brand or condition. DVD's were labeled as half off, but I didn't see a price for comparison. The book department was large and popular. On the day I was there they were constantly adding new items, including furniture pieces, and the pickers were standing ready. This store is part of the Opportunity House, a non profit that offers social services to disadvantaged families, a mission I truly support. The employees were all nice, especially the young man at the register, who provided me with a loyalty card - get it hole punched for each purchase. So while this might not be the best looking or best kept store, it's a great place to hunt for vintage and current items on the cheap.

From the owner: OppShop is a not-for-profit thrift store in Berks County. Our purpose is to support the programs…read moreand services of Opportunity House, a shelter for the homeless in Reading and Berks County.