Donors Enable Allentown Rescue Mission to Purchase Life-Saving Monitor
(ALLENTOWN, PA) - The Allentown Rescue Mission would like to thank its donors for remaining faithful
throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. It used a portion of the donations to purchase a blood pressure
kiosk to help monitor the health of its clients. During the pandemic, the Allentown Rescue Mission has
seen more men with significant medical issues. Some of the men have been previously diagnosed, while
others are in need of diagnosis. This prompted the Allentown Rescue Mission to more closely monitor
the men’s health.
After testing the men on the new machine, the blood pressure results were eye-opening. Eighty-seven
percent of the men living at the shelter recorded elevated blood pressure. “Studies show that heart
disease is the third leading cause of death among people experiencing homelessness, and hypertension
is more prevalent in those experiencing homelessness compared to those with stable housing”, stated
Suzanne Cressman, Director of the DeSales Free Medical Clinic.
With these results, the Allentown Rescue Mission took a hard look at the food it was serving to its
clients. Going forward, it will focus on preparing the food donations as part of a heart-healthy, lowsodium diet and asks donors to include low-sodium foods in their offerings. Additionally, the Allentown
Rescue Mission will monitor the men’s blood pressure more frequently with the new machine.
The time given to the Allentown Rescue Mission employees to assess the medical needs of the shelter
men has proven to be a silver lining in the pandemic lockdown. The men will receive even better care as
a result of the lockdown and the generosity of Allentown Rescue Mission supporters.
throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. It used a portion of the donations to purchase a blood pressure
kiosk to help monitor the health of its clients. During the pandemic, the Allentown Rescue Mission has
seen more men with significant medical issues. Some of the men have been previously diagnosed, while
others are in need of diagnosis. This prompted the Allentown Rescue Mission to more closely monitor
the men’s health.
After testing the men on the new machine, the blood pressure results were eye-opening. Eighty-seven
percent of the men living at the shelter recorded elevated blood pressure. “Studies show that heart
disease is the third leading cause of death among people experiencing homelessness, and hypertension
is more prevalent in those experiencing homelessness compared to those with stable housing”, stated
Suzanne Cressman, Director of the DeSales Free Medical Clinic.
With these results, the Allentown Rescue Mission took a hard look at the food it was serving to its
clients. Going forward, it will focus on preparing the food donations as part of a heart-healthy, lowsodium diet and asks donors to include low-sodium foods in their offerings. Additionally, the Allentown
Rescue Mission will monitor the men’s blood pressure more frequently with the new machine.
The time given to the Allentown Rescue Mission employees to assess the medical needs of the shelter
men has proven to be a silver lining in the pandemic lockdown. The men will receive even better care as
a result of the lockdown and the generosity of Allentown Rescue Mission supporters.
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