Shine on, you lovely Shriners

You already know how important our local senior centers are to the communities they serve.

What you might not know is much about the white knight that came to the rescue of Hayden Senior Center, a happy and active place where staff and patrons call themselves Hayden Senior Gems.

The Gems faced eviction when their rent on North Government Way was increasing from $3,745 to $5,800 a month. They’d been in the same location for more than a quarter of a century and had no clue where to go because rent everywhere has gone through the roof.

Galloping seemingly out of nowhere were the local gallants from the Coeur d'Alene chapter of Shriners International, 1250 W. Lancaster Road in Hayden. While not a permanent solution, the Shriners are sharing their ample space and upgraded facilities with the Gems for two years, buying the Haydenites time to find a long-term answer.

Most folks know the Shriners for their children’s hospitals — and for sometimes boundless generosity for good causes. Here’s a brief description from the organization’s website:

Shriners International is a fraternity based on fun, fellowship and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth. With nearly 200 local chapters and thousands of clubs on six continents, Shriners are known for their fellowship, brotherhood, compassion and generosity.

The fraternity established Shriners Hospitals for Children as its official philanthropy in 1922, and continues to support it today, while striving to make the world a happier, better place. Shriners International helps good men become better leaders, husbands, fathers, friends and community contributors. Brotherhood is the cultural foundation that distinguishes our fraternity from other groups and associations. When you become a Shriner, you join a network of nearly 200,000 brothers around the globe who are dedicated to helping and supporting each other personally and professionally.

The local Shriners learned about the Gems’ plight through a story in The Press and stepped right into the fray to help. This is the truest form of a gift — one in which there is no expectation of reciprocity except knowing you’ve done something very good to help those who need a hand up.

The Shriners have presented another shining example of how great communities take care of their own.