Paul R. grew up as the youngest of seven children. He was a “lone wolf” and “always got into trouble.” As a child, he recalled feeling entitled. He believed that everything should be given to him and when it wasn’t, he rebelled. Then, Paul hit a particularly low point in his life. He struggled with substance abuse and confessed, “I was lost, real desperate, and I had given up.” Luckily, he found his way to a rehab facility and then to the Allentown Rescue Mission. 

Paul entered the Transformation Program at the Mission and found that his story wasn’t that different from other guests’ stories, which made him feel more at home. While in the program, he felt called by God to “embrace change.” Paul has been concentrating on the classes offered in the program and has committed to changing his life. With a better understanding of God, he believes things are going to get better. He said, “I can do this…I will do this.” 

Today, Paul works for the Clean Team Workforce. However, he has a strong desire to help others and is considering becoming a Certified Recovery Specialist. Paul said sadly, “There’s a lot of people that are lost.”

When Timothy K. arrived at the Mission, he was miserable, angry, anxious, lonely, and hopeless. Recently sober, he had nothing left and needed a fresh start. Tim hoped God would give him another chance to turn his life around. 

Tim joined the Transformation Program because he didn’t know what else to do. While in the program, he grew spiritually and became stronger in his conviction to change and stay sober. Laying a foundation in God’s word, Tim found hope and his negative emotions started to change into gratitude. 

Currently, Tim is working for Domino’s and the Clean Team Workforce. He is working hard to save a nest egg for when he leaves the Mission. He is committed to going to church and has found peace in prayer. Tim is excited to start a new chapter of his life with a foundation, plan, and supportive people.

Henry B. spent 8 years in Baton Rouge, LA, working in the drug scene. He was well-respected in his community as a trustworthy man that local dealers could depend on to protect and distribute product, but he began to see disturbing activity. Then one day Henry’s conscience overtook him, and he decided to take a bus to Allentown PA, a place he had never been before. 

Once in Allentown, Henry found his way to the Allentown Rescue Mission. He was warmly welcomed into the shelter and decided to enroll in the Transformation Program. The Word of God was broken down in the classes and Henry was able to understand God in a whole new way. He repented about his past life and spent time praying. Henry felt that one of the best parts of the program was the positive people he encountered. He credited the Transformation Program for “transforming” his relationship with God and his way of thinking. 

Near the end of the eight-week Transformation Program, Henry’s aunt came to visit him from Atlanta and was brought to tears after hugging him and not smelling the scent of marijuana. She was so proud of the work he put in that she offered to have Henry move to Atlanta and stay with her. 

Henry moved to Atlanta after he graduated from the Transformation Program to live with his aunt, continue rebuilding his life, and make the necessary changes needed to become a morally upright man with a relationship with God. He says he will bring all his work with him to commemorate where his life changed for the better.

Glen N. lived an ordinary life, working and maintaining a place to live, until he suffered a stroke and heart failure. This unexpected life change threw Glen into a tailspin. He began drinking heavily, was overcome with anxiety and depression, and eventually had a nervous breakdown. “I felt like God hated me because of all the things that were happening to me,” Glen acknowledged. 

After being released from the hospital, Glen came to the Allentown Rescue Mission. He joined the Transformation Program and “everything changed for the better.” Glen said, “What put my mind at ease is that God loves me no matter what.” Glen believes he was addicted to anger and blamed everyone else for his problem, but he is learning to take responsibility for his actions. He didn’t have confidence in anything he said but now he can say what is on his mind. 

Currently, Glen is working on the Clean Team Workforce and is looking to stabilize his finances, health, and spirituality. He has a good relationship with his sister and looks forward to when they can spend more time together.

“I felt like I knew everything,” Stephon said. “You have a lot of distractions out there, I got tired of doing the same thing year after year,” he added. Unfortunately, that mindset cost Stephon his job as a forklift operator and then he didn’t know what to do. That’s when he decided to come to the Allentown Rescue Mission. “I needed to get pointed in the right direction.” 

Stephon took many useful lessons away from the Transformation Program. He developed a deeper understanding of God, learned how to manage his money, and how to identify his anger. Stephon also noted that the Mission allowed him time to reflect on his life and gave him time to “positively strategize” what his next steps should be. 

Currently, Stephon works for a local company and part-time for the Clean Team Workforce. In the future, he would like to help people who are transitioning between housing and, one day, move to Florida.

Carlos L. lived completely on his own since the age of 16. One day his life derailed and he didn’t have anyone to lean on for help. It started when Carlos left his apartment because the landlord would not address a bed bug issue. He then had a biking accident that dislocated his shoulder and shattered his collarbone. He chose to “tough it out” and let his injuries heal naturally. He then fell asleep on the bus to work. When he woke up, someone had stolen his phone, cash, and cards. Injured and without money, Carlos was unable to catch a bus home from work. He stayed behind a dumpster near a grocery outlet and began praying to God for help. 

That’s when Carlos found his way to the Allentown Rescue Mission. He told the Mission staff, “I’ve been alone all this time, I thought I would always be alone.” During his time in the Transformation Program, he began to realize that he wasn’t alone. He gained a new family in Mission staff, a brotherhood of guests, and most importantly, a relationship with God. 

Today, Carlos works at B. Braun. He continues to go to church and pray. His goal in life is to develop his relationship with God and form connections with others.

Caydele F. was born in Trinidad and Tobago. He came to the United States in 1993 at the age of 6. Caydele felt that his family was dysfunctional and that affected his life as a young man. In his twenties, he began selling drugs and struggled with broken relationships and marital infidelity. He started experiencing suicidal thoughts, which he believed stemmed from his lack of connection with others, and knew he wanted to change his life. Caydele first went to rehab for his drug addiction and then in November of 2023, he found the Allentown Rescue Mission. 

Caydele joined the Transformation Program hoping to “learn from his mistakes” and “build a solid foundation” for a new life. He said, “I always felt lonely, even in a room filled with people.” Caydele developed a sense of relief from learning how God is incorporated into his life and doesn’t feel lonely when he prays. 

The brotherhood that he found at the Mission has also alleviated his loneliness. He realized that the drugs he was using kept him isolated. “There are no regrets for coming here, just gratitude. I guess being here you find a lot of what you didn’t think you needed, it really helps,” Caydele stated. 

Caydele is currently working on the Clean Team Workforce until he finds a permanent, full-time job and saves enough money to move out on his own.

Joe F. grew up with parents who struggled with alcoholism, and he started drinking heavily at the age of 15. Joe said he used partying to mask the pain of his dysfunctional family. At his lowest point, he was arrested multiple times for DUI and came close to death three times as a result of his drinking. One night after partying, Joe lost consciousness. He remembered hitchhiking, but when he came to, he was in a different city over an hour away from where he started. 

After that night, Joe stayed clean and sober for five years. He got married and was about to become a father. Sadly, his first child was stillborn, and he and his wife struggled with the pain of the loss. Joe turned to smoking pot and she isolated herself and the marriage ended in divorce. 

For the next 18 years, Joe got by, but he started drinking again and his life was held together by a thread. Joe admitted, “I wasted a lot of years of my life building a foundation that was never firm.” He then lost his job and his most recent relationship and found himself in need of the Allentown Rescue Mission. 

The Transformation Program taught the good news of Jesus that Joe needed in his life. He is learning to accept his past and is trying to change the way he reacts to the world. He is also working on the Clean Team Workforce while looking for a full-time job. Joe doesn’t know how his future will work out, but he is learning to trust God in the unknowns of life.

(ALLENTOWN, PA) – The Clean Team Workforce congratulates its Employee of the Month for April,
Caydele F.

Caydele was born in Trinidad and Tobago. He came to the United States in 1993 at the age of 6.
Caydele said he grew up in a dysfunctional family which caused him to isolate himself. He never felt
close to his family, and in his twenties, he turned to drugs to relieve his feelings of loneliness. He also
experienced suicidal thoughts from his extreme loneliness but knew that something in his life had to
change.

In November of last year, Caydele came to the Allentown Rescue Mission after completing a drug
rehabilitation program. He joined the Transformation Program hoping to “learn from his mistakes” and
“build a solid foundation” for a new life. He also felt encouraged that he would be in a program with
other men in a similar situation.

While in the program, Caydele learned more about putting God in control of his life. He started praying
and realized it helped him with his feelings of isolation. He also recognized that the drugs he used in the
past kept him isolated. Additionally, Caydele enjoyed the brotherhood the guests developed and made
friends because of it.

After graduating from the program, Caydele began working for the Clean Team Workforce. He was
assigned different jobs, including estate cleanouts, junk removal, and landscaping. Shortly after, he was
promoted to crew leader and has been an asset to the Clean Team Workforce. Caydele mentioned that
he didn’t have any experience in landscaping, and stated, “I’ve learned so much about doing yard work
and mulching.” Caydele’s confidence has soared because of the customer praise he has received for his
landscaping work, and he can now be seen around the Mission with a smile on his face.

Caydele plans to work for the Clean Team Workforce until he finds a permanent, full-time job in the
community. He is saving money and plans to move into his own apartment soon. When asked about
the Mission, Caydele said, “There are no regrets for coming here, just gratitude.”

The Allentown Rescue Mission is excited to announce the recognition of Kris and Preeta Kapoor for their dedicated service and commitment to men experiencing homelessness in the Greater Lehigh Valley with an award named in their honor. A ceremony presenting the Kapoor Cares Award was held at the Allentown Rescue Mission on March 21, 2025. 

Each year after, the newly created Kapoor Cares Award will recognize a deserving supporter of the Allentown Rescue Mission who demonstrates the same philanthropic spirit as Kris and Preeta Kapoor. The couple’s continuous dedication to the Allentown Rescue Mission has changed the lives of countless men. 

After graduating from Delhi College of Engineering, Mr. Kapoor moved to the United States to work as a design engineer for the Fuller Company. In 1986, he, along with 5 other executives, bought the Fuller Company and sold it to F.L. Smidth in 1991. 

Mr. Kapoor then moved into the real estate arena and committed himself to the greater good of the Lehigh Valley. He founded and served the Hindu Temple Society of Allentown and served on many Boards of Directors, including the Allentown Rescue Mission. 

In the 1960’s, Mr. Kapoor lived in the Allentown area and often walked by the Mission. “I developed a habit, you know, of making the sign of the cross as I walked by the big cross outside of the building,” Kapoor recounted when describing his connection to the Mission. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kapoor prepared and served meals at the Mission during the holidays for many years. As time passed, they continued to support the long-time Mission efforts of feeding and sheltering men experiencing homelessness through in-kind and monetary donations. “Oh Lord, I came to this world empty-handed, and I will go empty-handed. Oh Lord, it is You, who gave me. It is You, who is giving, not I,” stated Mr. Kapoor. 

Eventually, Mr. Kapoor’s devotion to the Mission led him to serve on the Board of Directors where he faithfully served for many years. In 2022, the Mission named the shelter’s dining room the “Kris and Preeta Kapoor Dining Room” as a thank you for their generous donations and continuous support of the Mission. At that time, Mr. Kapoor stated, “There is no greater good than to feed and help those in need.” 

Skip Smith, CEO of the Allentown Rescue Mission, said, “Kris and Preeta have been long-time supporters of the Allentown Rescue Mission dating back before, during, and after his contributions as a board member. Their ongoing and substantial generosity is instrumental to accomplishing our mission to Rescue, Rehabilitate, and Restore men experiencing homelessness.” 

Mr. and Mrs. Kapoor’s additional philanthropic endeavors include a transformational gift to support scholarships for Temple/St. Luke’s School of Medicine and the largest donation to expand the Hindu Temple Society in Allentown. “We completely believe in sharing our blessings, God has been very kind to us, and at this point, we don’t need very much to live. We are on the last leg of our journey in this world and it’s our duty to help the less fortunate in our community we have called our home for 65 years,” Mrs. Kapoor respectfully shared.