Christmas in July Contest Winner Chosen
(ALLENTOWN, PA) – The Allentown Rescue Mission is thrilled to announce Jose P. as the winner of its
Christmas in July holiday card contest. Jose’s winter barn scene prevailed over five competing paintings,
collecting 51 percent of the votes. All the paintings were created in the Mission’s Therapeutic Art Class
by men experiencing homelessness and residing at the Mission.
As the winner, Jose’s painting will become the Allentown Rescue Mission’s 2024 Christmas card. Jose
will be honored on the card and receive a gift card to a local eatery for his achievement.
“If it wasn’t for the Allentown Rescue Mission and the therapeutic art class, I would never have known
that I was an artist! Thank you to everyone who voted. Merry Christmas and God Bless,” gushed Jose
when he learned that his picture was chosen.
Jose never imagined that he would end up in a homeless shelter. He worked hard before he came to the
Mission but lost everything trying to help a family member save their home. In the end, there were too
many bills and the house he was trying to save was lost, along with his own home.
After graduating from the Allentown Rescue Mission’s Transformation Program, Jose began working for
the Clean Team Workforce. He continues to be a reliable, hard worker for the Clean Team Workforce
and is excited to reunite with his family as soon as he has saved enough money for a place for them to
live.
The Allentown Rescue Mission thanks all the men who participated in the contest. The contest and
subsequent Christmas card would not have been possible without their willingness to take a risk and put
their talents in the public eye.
