(ALLENTOWN, PA) – The Allentown Rescue Mission will host its third annual “Date with Dad” cookout on June 21, 2026, for men residing at the Mission and their families. Men experiencing homelessness are often separated from their families and overlooked as fathers. The Mission’s annual Father’s Day picnic aims to foster reconciliation between its guests and their children.

Felix, a current guest at the Allentown Rescue Mission and employee of the Clean Team Workforce, has been preparing himself for the day he can reunite with his son. Felix came to the Allentown Rescue Mission seeking a positive environment after personal struggles with addiction and incarceration.

Today, he is firmly rooted in his Christian faith and is determined to change his life for the better. “My goal is to be with my son again. I’ve taken online parenting and GED classes and have been working on myself so I can be a good dad. My son is my motivation,” Felix explained.

According to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, one in four American children lives in a fatherless household. This living arrangement often brings severe social consequences and trauma for children separated from their parents.

Serving nearly 1,000 men each year, the Allentown Rescue Mission works to rescue, rehabilitate, and

restore dads, like Felix, to their families every day. The Mission’s Transformation Program, an eight-week Christ-centered program, explores topics such as fatherhood responsibilities and second chances with family. The staff emphasizes the importance of family relationships and the positive impact of having a father present in the home, intending to build stronger dads, families, and communities.

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

Information provided to TVL by:
Stefanie Appel