36 | JUNE 8 • 2023 

W

hen A.L.L. 
Laundry Service 
was asked how 
much it would cost to install 
five sets of washers and 
dryers at Ronald McDonald 
House Charities (RMHC) 
of Detroit, owner Howard 
Shear’s immediate response 
was, “This is a charity. This 
isn’t for us to make money 
on.”
A.L.L. Laundry Services 
is part of Lakeside Laundry 
Equipment, a family-owned 
and operated distributor 
based in Bedford Heights, 
Ohio, just outside Cleveland. 
As the company’s route 
division, A.L.L. leases 
machines and maintains 
shared laundry rooms 
in residential buildings 
throughout Ohio and in 
the greater Detroit and 
Pittsburgh areas. Shear 
recently opened a new 
laundromat on 8 Mile Road 

in Detroit called Heights 
Laundry.
Since 1979, RMHC Detroit 
has been a home-away-from-
home for families of children 
undergoing treatment at the 
Detroit Medical Center and 
other nearby hospitals. 
 A.L.L.’s Rex Anderson 
worked with Maytag 
Commercial Laundry Senior 
Sales Manager Ted Battistone 
to secure a donation of five 
commercial-grade washer/
dryer stacks. A.L.L. installed 

the machines at RMHC 
Detroit earlier this year and 
is providing service and 
maintenance free of charge.
Shear added that now that 
his business has a foundation 
in Detroit, he wants to 
become more involved in the 
local community.
“Giving back to the 
community is very important 
to us. Being able to partner 
with Whirlpool Corporation 
and Maytag Commercial 
Laundry shows the 

strength we have behind us 
even as a local operator,” says 
Shear, who is a supporter of 
the FIDF and Israel Institute 
of Technology.
“The project was 
something that the city 
needed and something that 
we knew we could do. When 
you see what they do for 
these kids and their families 
at Ronald McDonald House, 
it makes you feel good about 
humanity. They really do a 
lot.” 

Making Home Away 
from Home More 
Comfortable

here’s to

ADL will honor Rachel 
Tronstein Stewart, president 
of Gardner White Furniture, at 
its National Home Furnishings 
Industry Tribute Dinner on 
June 22 in New York City. A 
fourth-generation retailer, 
Stewart exemplifies strong 

leadership and support of 
ADL’s mission to fight hate 
and extremism. “Rachel’s 
dedication to partnerships 
is true service to our state, 
and we are thrilled to com-
memorate her,” said Carolyn 
Normandin, ADL Michigan 

Regional Director. “When ris-
ing antisemitism and hatred 
peppers our communities, 
it’s refreshing to see corpo-
rate responsibility and a true 
sense of ADL’s core mission 
and values embodied in 
Rachel’s leadership.” 

A.L.L. Laundry Service and Maytag Commercial Laundry 
donate to Ronald McDonald House of Detroit 

Howard Shear

Commercial laundry 
equipment installed in 
the Ronald McDonald 
House of Detroit 

BUSINESS

