(ALLENTOWN, PA) – Mark H. became the first man to benefit from the Allentown Rescue Mission’s Educational Scholarship Fund in November 2021. A year and a half later, the Allentown Rescue Mission is proud to celebrate Mark’s continued success.

January marked his first anniversary working at Geodis Logistics. Mark was hired by the local logistics company as a forklift driver after completing Logistics & Forklift training at Lehigh Career & Technical Institute. He received his forklift certification by participating in the Mission’s Educational Scholarship Program funded by Glasbern and an anonymous donor for education to help homeless men become more employable.

Mark came to the Allentown Rescue Mission after he lost his job at a retail store in New York City. Once at the Mission, he immediately set goals for himself to end his homelessness and embraced all the programs the Mission had to offer. First, Mark graduated from the Transformation Program which developed his life and work skills, and then worked for the Clean Team Workforce while saving money and completing forklift training through the scholarship program.

Mark studied which local companies were hiring and found that warehouses across the Lehigh Valley had job openings. He decided the quickest way to get back on his feet was to obtain a forklift certification.

Mark says, “I am doing great. The scholarship program provided me with an opportunity to learn a skill and regain my independence.” He hopes more men at the Mission will take advantage of the beneficial program. Mark plans to continue learning how the Geodis warehouse runs and hopes to eventually be promoted to a supervisor or management position.

The Allentown Rescue Mission, a 501c3, 123 bed non-profit homeless shelter has been providing shelter for homeless men since 1900. In addition to emergency shelter services (365 days a year), the Allentown Rescue Mission offers a 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 over 946 men per year, and serves over 42,000 meals a year 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

 

Information provided to TVL by:
Stefanie Appel
Community Relations
Allentown Rescue Mission
www.allentownrescuemission.org

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