Danell Walker is making strides in his role as a material handler in Peckham’s 3PL line of business, where he’s been sorting, folding, and shipping out items for our men and women in uniform for the past three months. It’s a far cry from his life just a few years ago, facing homelessness after a string of tough breaks. Danell’s story is one of resilience, learning from hard lessons, and seizing a second chance at a place that gave him a fresh start.
Back in 2018, Danell applied to Peckham after hearing it was open to hiring people with felonies on their records. He started as a sewer and worked his way up to level three over two years. “I knew Peckham was a great place to work for. I knew they would help me,” he recalls. That initial run built his work history and gave him confidence. In 2020, he took a job elsewhere, but when COVID and the lockdowns hit, Danell found himself out of work. The ever-resourceful Danell dove deeper into dog breeding, a side hustle he’d started in 2015. It boomed at first, with buyers coming from across the country. Yet, due to his lack of experience separating business and personal finances, things unraveled. Bills piled up, sales slowed, and he lost his home, a litter of puppies, and more.
Hitting rock bottom forced Danell to reflect. He turned to his faith for strength, which he credits with turning his life around. “I always woke up with a smile on my face because I knew there was going to be brightness after the darkest night,” he says. “I just knew it was going to be over.” Reapplying to Peckham felt like the right move. He landed a position in its custodial line of business, where he worked for a year and a half. Right away, he was thrust into a leadership spot, overseeing a crew. It was new territory, handling questions and guiding others through their tasks. He embraced it, learning to communicate better and stay approachable. One highlight was brightening coworkers’ days. “One of my favorite parts about being in the janitorial position is when I come in and interact with people, and I’m able to put smiles on their faces, bring joy to them,” Danell explains. “If they’re having a bad day, me joking and smiling at them hopefully brightens up their day.”
Seeking better pay and growth, Danell applied for the material handler role. Today, he thrives in a positive environment. His team stacks, counts, and ships with efficiency, and the vibe keeps him motivated. “The people I work with are amazing. They always have smiles. I never get any negativity. It’s all positivity, you know?” he adds. “It’s one of the best parts of my days, honestly, waking up, coming here, and getting started.”
From rebuilding after prison and homelessness to securing an apartment, a vehicle, and now a solid job, Danell’s path shows steady progress. He’s eyeing an even better position in the coming months. Without Peckham’s support, he says he doesn’t know what he’d be doing today. With it, and an infectious determination to continue bettering his life, he stands as a shining example of how doing great work leads to success.