Personal Care Donations

Each year the Mission serves between 700-800 men, all in need of personal care products. We recently received a large donation of travel-size personal care items from a donor who travels for work. The size is perfect for men served in our Gateway Center. It's length of stay is 14-days. Larger size products are also needed, for men in our long-term program. Any item, big or small, is appreciated. You can find a list of needed items on the Mission's Needs List page http://www.allentownrescuemission.org/needed.php . Thank you to all our generous donors!

Formerly Homeless Emergency Shelter Guest Becomes Donor

Hollis had just moved to the Lehigh Valley from Quakertown and was working at a local restaurant. He was arrested and spent a month in jail before being acquitted of the charges. Long enough, though, to lose his job and housing, which was a month-to-month efficiency.

He came to the Allentown Rescue Mission's Emergency Shelter in September of 1994, and soon enrolled in the Christian Living and Values Program. He stayed in the program for 6 months, then moved into another local ministry, where he stayed for a month. Eventually, he went to live with a friend, which was not a good situation. He admits he "slipped" and needed help.

But Hollis used it as a learning experience. he says he again turned to God and went into a treatment program. Even then, he struggled. In 1996, he returened for a two-week stay in the Mission's Emergency Shelter until he saved enough to rent an apartment. He worked a variety of jobs: in a pizza shop, a car wash, and telemarking at a loan company. This last job opened doors for Hollis, as he worked his way up from telemarker to junior loan officer, to loan officer.

He was able to buy a house, and worked at a bank. Eventually, he bought a second house and continues to rent out the first one. Hollis consistently donates to the Mission through the years, first giving back the clothes he received when he initially came to the Mission. Then, he continued the tradition by donating other items the Mission needed, and as he was able, began donating cash.

Hollus considers it a joy to give back. "if it wasn't for the Mission, I wouldn't have two houses and be drug-free," he says. "The Mission planted inital seeds that the other places watered."

Mission and Mayfair

You can save $1 off Mayfair admission and help the Mission at the same time! Mayfair is collecting rolls of paper towels and spray cleaner at its admission gates for the Mission. Everyone who brings an item will receive $1 off regular admission or $2 off a multi-day pass! The Mission is grateful for this partnership; cleaning products are always needed at the Mission, to keep it clean for the homeless people we serve.

Mayfair Festival of the Arts showcases visual and performing arts in Cedar Beach Park in Allentown. The festival runs Thursday, May 27th through Monday, May 31st. For more information on the festival, visit http://www.mayfairfestival.org/.

Gunther's Left Wing/Right Wing Challenge Sponsors More Than 500 Wings!

"Egged on" by Bobby Gunther Walsh of WAEB AM 790, listeners participated in a friendly competition, calling in to sponsor either Left Wings or Right Wings at $5 each.

By noon on Friday, April 30th, the Right Wingers were soaring with 504 wings sponsored. The Left Wingers sponsored 32 wings, for a total of 536 wings. This raised $2,680--something to crow about--before the dinner began!!

Our thanks to Gunther, WAEB & its listeners for their support!

Chicken Feed Dinner to Support the Mission is a Success!

The Chicken Feed Dinner to support the Allentown Rescue Mission served 321 guests and raised over $19,000! Sixty-five volunteers pitched in to make this event a success.

Our thanks to our sponsors:

Super Chicken Sponsor:
Kutztown Folk Festival

Big Bird Sponsor:
Mr. Bill's Poultry Market

Nest Egg Sponsors:
Bethany United Methodist Church
Brownback Mason & Associates
Chicken Little & the Big Red Chicken
Embassy Bank
Foster Contracting
McAuliffe Hauling and Recycling
Pepsi Bottling Group
W.J. Stiver & Associates

Flock Sponsors:
Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Balf
Gannon's Gourmet Foods
Karen Grim-Bogdan
Interstate Fleets, Inc.
Johsua's Tree
Michael Mutarelli
Thomas Nowakowski, Jr.
Brad & Janice Osborne
Melanie Sanchez-Jones
Stotz & Fatzinger Office Supplies
YMCA, Allentown

Wing and A Prayer Sponsors:
Jordan United Church of Christ, South Whitehall
St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Allentown

Chicken Nugget Sponsors:
Brickote
Bill Dickinson
New China Buffet
William Pummer, Jr.
Steven Ziminsky

A special thank you to Asbury United Methodist Church for hosting the Chicken Feed...And MANY thanks to our wonderful volunteers!

Bake Sale Benefits the Mission

Marianne (Mary) Knapp, a loyal Mission supporter, sold a variety of baked goods on Sunday, March 28th at the Wal*Mart Supercenter in Easton. Mary baked the goodies herself, and is donating the proceeds to the Mission. Bill Dickinson, the Mission's Director of Development, stopped by for some samples and raved, "They were delicious!"

THANK YOU, Mary, for your hard work and dedication!

Eric's Story

Eric was homeless and didn't care if he lived or died. In fact, dying seemed to be a way out of the mess his life had become.

His drug use had put him in and out of rehabs, mental hospitals, and jail.

"I lost everything," Eric said.

Finally, something changed.

Find out what happened to Eric at www.allentownrescuemission.org.