The Clean Team Workforce congratulates its Employee of the Month for February,
Cory L.
At 14 years old, Cory lost his 12-year-old brother in a tragic drowning accident. Cory’s brother, Ryan,
tried to rescue Cory, who was struggling in the water, and sadly lost his own life. Ever since, Cory has
harbored guilt for his brother’s death and has lived believing his parents blame him for the accident.
When Cory was 17, he moved from Oregon to Florida to live with his aunt for three years. Eventually, he
moved back to Oregon and lived with friends and family while working odd jobs to pay for rent. But
Cory’s emotional struggles overwhelmed him, and he turned to drugs to cope with his pain.
Last August, Cory recognized that he needed a change in his life. He left everything in Oregon behind
and took a bus to Pennsylvania to visit a friend. Once here, his friend recommended the Allentown
Rescue Mission, and thankfully, Cory took his advice.
At the Mission, Cory heard about its Transformation Program and wanted to enroll to learn more about
himself, how to manage his emotions, and develop a relationship with God. He enjoyed the program’s
classes and, for the first time, felt hopeful for his future.
After graduating from the Transformation Program, Cory was eligible to be hired with the Clean Team
Workforce and started working immediately. He began street cleaning but was quickly offered a job
disassembling appliances and equipment at a metal recycling company. He breaks down items into
component pieces and separates the metals. The work isn’t easy, and the weather this winter has been
hard, but Cory is just as tough. He shows up on time, every day, and is willing to get dirty and work his
hardest.
Cory isn’t sure what the future holds, but he knows God has a plan for him. “I’m just focused on the
present right now. I want to keep working and save as much money as possible,” he said.