Here's a tip for our customers

Baby, it’s cold out there.

How cold? Well, it’s not quite cold enough for teens to pull their pants all the way up, and dogs aren’t quite stuck to fire hydrants, but it’s cold.

And it’s colder still at 2 or 3 in the morning, when your newspaper carrier is navigating wintry streets, doing his or her utmost to get you your Press just the way you want it.

Dry. On time. And in many cases, delivered on your porch.

We hope you’ll find a way to thank that person with a generous tip this holiday season.

In case you don’t know, your carrier is an independent contractor. She or he is paid on a per-piece delivery basis, and that pay has to cover not just working in the wee hours 365 days a year, but gasoline, wear and tear on the vehicle and, in sometimes miserable weather, a good pair of gloves and boots.

Your carrier is one of the hardest working people we know. In many cases, carriers take on newspaper routes to supplement their family income. It’s a second job for many; a third job for some. These are moms, dads, brothers and sisters who choose to sacrifice the comfort of a warm bed every night to ensure their financial goals are met. Sometimes, they willingly work these demanding jobs rather than sit at home and collect welfare.

There’s one other thing. Newspaper carriers help keep you safe. At a time of night many burglaries and other crimes occur, carriers serve as neighborhood watchdogs, reporting suspicious activities to police. You might never see your carrier, but she or he is keeping an eye out for you.

Please join us in expressing gratitude for these dedicated workers this holiday season with the warmth of a generous tip. If you don’t know how to ensure your carrier is rewarded, call The Press circulation department at 664-0220.