The Clean Team Workforce congratulates its Employee of the Month for March, Chris H.
Chris’s early life was marked by challenges. His parents divorced when he was three years old. Chris and his brother lived with his mother in New Jersey. When Chris was in middle school, his mom was diagnosed with cancer, and she passed away when he was a freshman in high school. At 17 years old, he moved in with his father, who was a heavy drinker. He lived with his dad for 3 years and then, in need of change, relocated to California to live with his aunt. Shortly after, Chris’s father passed away. With no direction or stability, he moved from state to state every few years.
Most recently, Chris found his way to Pennsylvania. He worked as a line cook, but after being laid off, he depleted his savings to pay for rent and was eventually evicted. Then, a skateboarding accident left Chris unable to work. That’s when he came to the Allentown Rescue Mission for shelter and time to heal.
Entering the Emergency Shelter, Chris felt humbled yet welcomed at the same time. He joined the Mission’s Transformation Program to gain stability and get back on his feet. “It helped remind me of my roots in spirituality as well as reaffirming my confidence in my abilities and talent,” Chris stated.
After healing from his injuries and graduating from the Transformation Program, Chris joined the Clean Team Workforce. He immediately started working in the Mission’s kitchen as a cook. His years of culinary experience have been a blessing for the men residing at the Mission. Chris is trained to run many aspects of a commercial kitchen. In addition to making and serving balanced meals to nearly 100 men every day, he is gracious and respectful to donors who drop off food for the Mission.
Chris’s goal is to become a chef. He would love to work at a high-end resort or possibly team up with his brother and open their own restaurant someday. “I love to cook, and it’s a rewarding field to work in,” Chris stated.
The Allentown Rescue Mission, a 501c3, 145 bed non-profit homeless shelter has been providing shelter to men in crisis since 1900. In addition to emergency shelter services (365 days a year), the Allentown Rescue Mission offers a faith-based residential life skills program, and transitional employment on the Clean Team Workforce that’s available for hire to the community. The Clean Team Workforce pays the men above PA state minimum wage– helping them save a nest egg to transition back into the community. In a typical year, the Allentown Rescue Mission provides shelter services for nearly 1,000 men and serves more than 60,000 meals to men in need.
To refer someone to the Allentown Rescue Mission for services or to learn ways you can help make a difference please visit www.allentownrescuemission.org