Puts Formerly Homeless Men Back to Work<\/i><\/strong><\/u>\u00a0<\/strong><\/u><\/i><\/p>\n The first snowfall of the season and the Thanksgiving Holiday may already be behind us, but the Allentown Rescue Mission\u2019s Clean Team is staying thankful – sporting new equipment in preparation for whatever mother nature brings!<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n During last year\u2019s winter season – a quick visit to Allentown\u2019s Downtown District after a snowy day or night was greeted by a dozen or more Clean Team employees in their blue uniforms \u2013 clearing sidewalks, crosswalks, and meters – with snowblowers, shovels, and brooms. This season the Clean Team is stepping it up and added a 2019 Kawasaki Mule UTV with 72\u201d snow plow and rear mounted salter to its stable of equipment, as well as two new commercial Ariens Professional 32\u201d snowblowers. <\/u><\/u><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re excited about the addition of this new equipment,\u201d says Allentown Mayor Ray O\u2019Connell. \u201cNot only will it make the men\u2019s job a little bit easier \u2013 it will allow them to move a little quicker than before, all of which means better service to the City of Allentown and the residents, employees and visitors traveling in the downtown district.\u201d <\/u><\/u><\/p>\n The Mission\u2019s Clean Team is the City of Allentown\u2019s contract holder to provide maintenance services for the downtown business district and adjacent neighborhoods. Duties include year round litter clean-up from sidewalks, special event set-up and tear-down and in-season powerwashing and snow removal on Hamilton Street sidewalks within the district. <\/u><\/u><\/p>\n The Clean Team\u2019s primary duty for the City is litter clean-up of sidewalks. Year to date, Clean Team employees have handpicked more than 59,000 lbs of Recycling and 63,000 lbs of trash from the City of Allentown main streets and alleyways in the areas between Walnut and Tilghman streets from 4th<\/sup> to 12th<\/sup> Streets.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n All employees of the\u00a0 Clean Team are formerly homeless men and paid above Pennsylvania state minimum wage. During their employment on the Clean Team, the men learn job readiness values \u2013 while performing real work in the community until finding permanent jobs at companies within the Greater Lehigh Valley area. <\/u><\/u><\/p>\n In addition to the work contracted for by the City of Allentown \u2013 the Clean Team is a \u201cone stop shop\u201d for anything general labor related.\u00a0 Conducting work for both commercial and residential customers, the Clean Team handles property and estate cleanouts, light demolition, loading and unloading, VCT floor stripping & refinishing (waxing) just to name a few. To learn more about the Allentown Rescue Mission\u2019s Clean Team call 610-MISSION or visit www.allentownrescuemission.org<\/a> <\/span>\u00a0<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n <\/u>\u00a0<\/u><\/p>\n About Allentown Rescue Mission<\/u><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n Founded in 1900 by Obadiah Becker, the Allentown Rescue Mission has addressed the root causes of homelessness across the Lehigh Valley for more than a century, providing rescue, rehabilitation and restoration through faith-based programs based on accountability and compassion.\u00a0 It operates as a non-denominational, Christian, social services organization that delivers critically needed goods and services to\u00a0homeless and impoverished men.\u00a0 Although not a church, the Mission does work closely with many different churches that are concerned about poverty and homelessness.\u00a0 It does so without regard to\u00a0race, color, creed, national origin or religion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nInformation provided to TVL by:
\nMike Moore
\nCommunications Manager
\nMayor’s Office
\n 435 Hamilton Street
\n Allentown, PA 18101
\n Mike.Moore@allentownpa.gov
\nhttp:\/\/www.AllentownPA.gov
\n
\n <\/p>\n
\n
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