Like a good neighbor

Westfield Lions learn they picked the right neighborhood

By MIKE BIRK
Westfield Lions Club

It’s a catchy commercial and phrase, but the Westfield Lions recently got to experience what a “Good Neighbor” really means firsthand.

Their largest fundraiser is a Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament, the largest in the Midwest. After years of use and abuse, new poker tables were needed. Enter Straight Poker Supplies in Toronto, Canada. They were able to supply new tables at a very reasonable price; however, since 16 tables were being ordered, they would have to be shipped via an over-the-road semi-truck which would require a loading dock to receive the crates.

The Westfield Lions, currently renovating their property on 169^th Street in Westfield, don’t have a loading dock. Standard Locknut, their immediate neighbor to the west, does have a receiving dock. When asked for assistance in receiving the shipment of poker tables, the Manager of Operations at Standard Locknut graciously agreed.

Photo provided

The people at Straight Poker Supplies offered to do something special for the Lions in the way of customizing the table top with the Lions’ colors and logo. This required an additional three weeks to secure the material. In the meantime, talks about a 25 percent tariff on Canadian goods coming to the USA became a reality. Once the table top material was in hand, Straight Poker stopped production on all but the Lions tables in an effort to beat the pending tariffs. Final payment was made on Friday, and on Monday the Lions received a call that the new tables would be delivered Wednesday morning. They had convinced their carrier to expedite the shipment.

Photo provided

On the morning of delivery, Standard Locknut not only accepted the shipment but also transported the crates with their forklift to the end of their drive. Since Straight Poker had been thoughtful enough to include casters on the crates, the Lions only needed to roll the crates to their facility.

The Westfield Lions are grateful for their new neighbors at their new property on 169th Street. (Photo provided)

Our “Good Neighbors” in Canada along with our “Good Neighbors” here in Westfield stepped up to show us all what it truly means. The Westfield Lions couldn’t be more thankful to both.

Oh yeah, not to leave out the commercial – the local State Farm agent purchased the office in the front part of the Lions’ property, going a long way towards allowing the Westfield Lions the opportunity to finish their property renovation. We truly do have “GOOD NEIGHBORS.”

Photo provided