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.