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Christmas in July Contest Winner Chosen
(ALLENTOWN, PA) – The Allentown Rescue Mission is thrilled to announce Jose P. as the winner of its Christmas in July holiday card contest. Jose’s winter barn scene prevailed over five competing paintings, collecting 51 percent of the votes. All the paintings were created in the Mission’s Therapeutic Art Class by men experiencing homelessness and residing at the Mission.
As the winner, Jose’s painting will become the Allentown Rescue Mission’s 2024 Christmas card. Jose will be honored on the card and receive a gift card to a local eatery for his achievement.
“If it wasn’t for the Allentown Rescue Mission and the therapeutic art class, I would never have known that I was an artist! Thank you to everyone who voted. Merry Christmas and God Bless,” gushed Jose when he learned that his picture was chosen.
Jose never imagined that he would end up in a homeless shelter. He worked hard before he came to the Mission but lost everything trying to help a family member save their home. In the end, there were too many bills and the house he was trying to save was lost, along with his own home.
After graduating from the Allentown Rescue Mission’s Transformation Program, Jose began working for the Clean Team Workforce. He continues to be a reliable, hard worker for the Clean Team Workforce and is excited to reunite with his family as soon as he has saved enough money for a place for them to live.
The Allentown Rescue Mission thanks all the men who participated in the contest. The contest and subsequent Christmas card would not have been possible without their willingness to take a risk and put their talents in the public eye.
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
