The Allentown Rescue Mission is still open and we continue accepting men during the pandemic.
As of now we have an exhaustive list of policies for the shelter, including, cleaning areas 3 times a day. We formed our protocol based on the CDC guidelines.
We purchased high-speed, non-invasive, forehead thermometers. Every new client that comes into the shelter gets their temperature taken, and every day we are monitoring our men’s temperatures. Right now we have no sick or symptomatic men.
We need and appreciate your help now more than ever. Please continue your financial support. We now accept physical donations via curb-side drop off so donors can maintain social isolation in their vehicles.
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We would like to thank all of our donors for continuing to support us during these difficult times. As our shelter remains open, and accepting, making this place a safe home for our men has become difficult, but our donors have made it easier by donating food and supplies in order to keep our men healthy and safe. We would like to give a big thank you to the donors below, and all others who have continued to support the Allentown Rescue Mission in our efforts to continue to rescue, rehabilitate, and restore homeless men.
- Starbucks and Wegmans: These two groups worked together in order to donate bread and juice to the Allentown Rescue Mission for the men’s lunches.
- Jesus Santiago and the team at Greater Shiloh Church in Easton: This group brought water, vegetables, and bags full of snacks and other goodies for our men.
- Starbucks and WAEB: WAEB and Starbucks worked together and dropped off sandwich kits, snacks, and 105 gallons of milk.
- Tom Shafer: Tom dropped off bags full of produce and boxes of ham steak in order to help provide meals to the 60+ men here at the Allentown Rescue Mission.
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During the COVID-19 epidemic, the Allentown Rescue Mission is trying their absolute hardest in order to make sure that our men are remaining safe and healthy. We need your help!
Our kitchen is still providing our men three meals a day and is doing so in bagged lunch form. The kitchen needs: single-serve drinks, single-serve snacks, produce, sandwich baggies, and items to make sandwiches which includes, but is not limited to: lunchmeat, cheese, mayo packets, tuna, peanut butter, jelly, bread, wraps, etc.
In order to keep our facility clean, as we are taking in men 24/7, we are in need of Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, multi-purpose cleaner, bleach, n95 masks, gloves, etc.
All donations can be made at the Allentown Rescue Mission via our curbside pickup. Just pull up front, and call the posted number.
With your help we can make sure our men are staying safe and healthy during this difficult time. For a full list of our needs,
click here.
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This week the Transformation Program is seeing the graduation of three men: Clifford, Eesaa, and Shaun. These graduates had different paths, but they have one thing in common: their paths led them to the Allentown Rescue Mission.
Clifford had a great childhood. He had the love of his family and friends. “I have always been blessed and had my needs supplied,” Clifford says. As his parents aged, he took care of them and without steady income, he became homeless. Clifford came to the Allentown Rescue Mission and joined the Transformation Program. Clifford says, “Through my eight weeks I have learned more than in my entire life, and I have been saved by Jesus Christ.” Clifford’s plans after graduation include getting a car and finding full-time work.
Eesaa grew up in a stable household. “I had a fairly normal life,” he says. He came to the Allentown Rescue Mission after his father brought him here due to some family issues. Eesaa says that through the Transformation Program he has found what it means to truly be a Christian. He encourages others to join the program so they too can find the Lord. Eesaa’s post- graduation plans are to strengthen and better himself physically and spiritually.
When asked about his childhood, Shaun said that it was good and that he was taken care of. Things changed for him when he came to the Lehigh Valley for a woman and they began having problems. When faced with homelessness, Shaun googled the Allentown Rescue Mission and decided to stay for a bit. He then joined the Transformation Program. Shaun says that the program helped him realize and expand his spirituality. He believes that others should go and learn about theirs as well. Shaun’s goals after graduation are to get a job and eventually save enough money to get a place to call his own.
The Allentown Rescue Mission would like to congratulate all of these men on their hard work and dedication. We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors, and we are excited to see where their hard work, dedication, and spirituality will lead them.
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For the month of April, we have chosen to shed a light on our Clean Team/ Facilities Manager, Mike M.
Mike started at the Allentown Rescue Mission in 2009. He says that he works for the Allentown Rescue Mission because he has the ability to make differences in the lives of those who need a hand-up not a hand-out.
Mike says that the most rewarding part of his job is seeing lives being changed. “The Clean Team is run by men from the Transformation Program. It is a program for the men, by the men,” says Mike. “Seeing others give back to the men who are in the same position they once were is a blessing.”
Mike helps to rescue, rehabilitate and restore the men at the Allentown Rescue Mission by teaching them workforce skills and development, providing them with transitional employment through The Clean Team, and providing them with other opportunities to work and save money until they find permanent employment in the community.
Mike’s advice for you is to support your local agency. “If you see a homeless man, stop and offer guidance for that person to the nearest shelter. Not everyone wants to change their circumstances- but those who do need to be aware of their resources.”
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The month of April is Volunteer Appreciation month and we would like to take this time to thank all of our volunteers over the past year! Your support and help has allowed us to continue rescuing, rehabilitating, and restoring the lives of homeless men in the Greater Lehigh Valley area.
Over the past year, our volunteers have helped provide meals to our men, make our annual events a success, provided repairs and maintenance to and around the building, taught classes to our men in the Transformation Program, provided church services for our men, and so much more!
The Allentown Rescue Mission thanks each and every one of you for your hard work and dedication to helping those in need in your community. It is because of your help that we can continue to change lives!
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For more information, please visit us at:
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