While managing a pizza shop in Battle Creek, Michigan, Dalton Shaffer got an unusual call from someone in Indianapolis, more than 225 miles away.
Julie and Richard Morgan had once lived in Battle Creek, and loved their local pizza shop. Theyโd moved 25 years ago, and tried many more pizzas, but never found one they loved as much as Steveโs.
โWe were young and money was tight but every pay day, Rich would pick up Steveโs Pizza for dinner. I canโt possibly describe how delicious this pizza is โ but several moves and all these years later, it is still the gold standard and weโve never found a better pizza yet.โ โ Julie Morgan
Steveโs has a reputation as a beloved family establishment and has been there for decades.
As a birthday celebration, they planned a trip back to Battle Creek to visit a place they once called home, but the journey was cut short. Rich was unexpectedly rushed to the ICU and diagnosed with terminal cancer.
When their family came to visit them in the hospital, Julieโs father was heart broken to hear that Rich wouldnโt be able to visit Battle Creek and have his favourite pizza again.
Rich had frequently critiqued other pizza and found it was โgood, but itโs no Steveโs.โ
Julieโs father called Steveโs Pizza, hoping for a letter or at best a phone call thanking the Morgans for their years of patronage and some well wishes.
Dalton Shaffer was on the other end of the phone and heard the plight of the sick manโs father-in-law.
Steveโs Pizza has a strict no delivery rule, but Dalton made an exception for the Morgans.
He asked what Richardโs favourite pizza was, and jotted down the address. Julieโs father emphasized that they were all the way over in Indianaopolis, but Dalton insisted. He closed the store and got in his car, prepared for a three and a half hour journey through the night across State lines.
Hopefully he brought some extra pizza with him as a road trip snack!
So in the middle of the night, Dalton arrived at the house and delivered two special pies for the whole family.
The circumstances must have made that slice of Steveโs pizza even more delicious than before!
Dalton was met with open arms and an offer to be put up at a nearby hotel for the night. He declined because he had to work the next day.
What an incredibly dedicated employee โ get this guy a raise!
โThe family came up, gave me a hug and everything like that, and it was cool. The expression on their faces and everything was really cool.โ โ Dalton Shaffer
Julie shared the story to Facebook and her post quickly went viral. Itโs been shared four thousand times and has had more than ten thousand reactions.
People are blown away by Daltonโs generous response to the phone call, and the lengths he went to to bring joy to this family.
This is next level customer service.
Dalton has since been presented with an award by Mayor of Battle Creek for his valiant act of kindness.
โI am beyond overwhelmed and humbled by this act of genuine kindness. Dalton brought our family so much joy โ and the best pizza in the world โ at a really difficult time.โ โ Julie Morgan
Iโm sure Steveโs Pizza can expect to see a massive spike in visitors after this heart-warming story.
Maybe theyโll change their take-away only rule!
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