The Allentown Rescue Mission congratulates its Clean Team Workforce employee
of the month for September, Ted K.
Ted first checked into the Allentown Rescue Mission in 2014. He worked as a forklift driver at a local
company but lived paycheck to paycheck. When Ted unexpectedly lost his job, he fell behind on rent
and ultimately lost his home.
While on the street, Ted met a Clean Team Workforce employee who told him about the Allentown
Rescue Mission’s Transformation Program, an eight-week, faith-based life skills program that could help
him change his life. Ted decided he could benefit from the program and after a short stay in the
Mission’s Emergency Shelter, he joined the Transformation Program.
After graduating from the Transformation Program, Ted worked briefly on the Clean Team Workforce.
Within a few months, his ten-year experience as a cook in the United States Navy enabled him to find
permanent employment as a line cook at a nearby restaurant. Ted remained employed at the restaurant
for six years until late 2020 when the pandemic forced the restaurant to lay off workers.
Once again, Ted was out of a job, but this time he had a place to turn for help before he fell behind on
his rent. Ted called the Clean Team Workforce to see if a job was available. It had a position open for a
litter clean-up maintenance worker. Ted took the job and excelled.
So later, when the Clean Team Workforce was selected as a contractor to provide litter clean-up services
for the City Center Allentown, Ted was a perfect choice to staff one of two new positions. When Rebecca
LeaShomb, Property Operations Coordinator for City Center Allentown, learned that Ted was
named the Clean Team Workforce employee of the month, she said, “We’re excited that Ted was
chosen, and we can see why. Ted shows up early and is ready to work every day. He is easy to work with
and gives his best effort when completing all his tasks. City Center is grateful for our partnership with the
Clean Team.”
Thank you, Ted, for representing the Allentown Rescue Mission well.
About Allentown Rescue Mission
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.
