Local business owner provides meal for testing site

Earl Walker, owner of W&W Towing, distributed food to members of the National Guard and to other workers at the Markham COVID-19 Testing Facility. Photo courtesy of Earl Walker
Earl Walker, owner of W&W Towing, distributed food to members of the National Guard and to other workers at the Markham COVID-19 Testing Facility. Photo courtesy of Earl Walker

Local business owner provides meal for testing site

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Earl Walker wanted to thank some of the people on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic and decided to do something special to express his gratitude.

Walker, who’s the owner of W&W Towing Company, recently thanked those who were facilitating testing at the Markham COVID-19 testing Site, located at 3824 W. 159th St. by teaming up with restaurants, Ruby’s Soul Food, in Country Club Hills and 94West Steakhouse, in Orland Park, where he surprised members of the National Guard and other workers with a meal.

Walker said he wanted to start an initiative to pop in on different first responders, hospital workers and other people who have been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I wanted to start with none other than the National Guard at the testing facility because they’re the ones that pretty much are, in my opinion, putting their lives on the lines first,” he said. “They’re testing individuals and pretty much coming into contact with the individuals first and I felt that oftentimes, they are being overlooked.”

Walker said he wanted to show his gratitude by providing the meals. There was also live musical entertainment from gospel music recording artist Kim Stratton. Markham Mayor Roger Agpawa and Robbins Mayor Tyrone Ward, as well as Cook County Commissioner Deborah Sims, D-Dist. 5, and Illinois State Representative Debbie Meyers-Martin, were also in attendance.

Walker said, because of COVID-19, his income has been cut in half, along with the amount of calls he has received for use of his tow trucks. Even his business with municipalities has been slow due to the virus.

“A lot of people aren’t traveling as much now, so we’re not getting that type of traction,” he said, “leaving us pretty much with nothing to do. So, I’ve had to cut my drivers’ hours, cut their time, cut their pay, trying to keep everything afloat.”

Walker said he partnered with 94West Steakhouse to finance food, the restaurant cooks the food and they help distribute the food to first responders.

“While our employees and other staffers have not been able to perform our normal operations, we do see a need to give back to the people who protect us on a daily basis,” said Brian Sord, of 94West Steakhouse. “We are proud to join this effort.”

Walker also has been doing a six-week initiative to provide non-perishable items to senior citizens, who were not able to get out because of COVID-19.

He said he is going to provide food to hospitals in the south suburbs, including Ingalls and St. James and they “pretty much” have a layout of the various hospitals, as well as fire departments and police departments that they are going to.

In April, Walker teamed up with fashion designer Barbara Bates to provide more than 1000 masks for Chicago Police officers who were attending the funeral of Sargent Clifford Martin, a CPD officer who died from COVID-19. Walker said he also distributed a full course meal to officers who attended the funeral. He said his heart for giving comes from his background.

“I grew up on the West side of Chicago in a not so wealthy neighborhood. And, I vowed if I was ever able to help people, I would,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate and blessed to have a good business that has allowed me to allot a certain amount of money to helping people and giving back,” he added.

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