Wish your paper carrier merry Christmas

It’s one week ‘til Christmas.

Can you find a little something to slip in your newspaper carrier’s stocking?

We’re talking about happy customers saying “thank you” in a tangible way to the men and women who get up in the middle of every night and do their best to ensure excellent delivery of local news every day of the year.

Happy customers like Jack Carter of Post Falls, who recently wrote:

“Why don’t we tip our paper delivery people? If you look at the ads for carriers, you can see how much money they make. Figure it out by the hour. What?!

“These people get up very early and deliver the paper no matter what the weather condition is. They pay for their own vehicle, gas and maintenance costs. Guess who puts the cover on your paper?

“Call The Press and give them your address. They will let the carrier know they have a card or envelope on your doorstep. They will pick it up. Don’t blame The Press. Maybe we could help. I had two paper routes in the ’60s.”

And like Mary Jane Hahn, also of Post Falls:

“Thank you, Clint Schroeder, for your article in the paper Aug. 31. We get our paper every morning and we don’t give a thought to what it takes to get on our doorstep. We don’t realize what people contend with and the pay is not good, so when we can, we should leave a tip in an envelope for them. Think about it, then do it.”

And like Randy Tetzner of Coeur d’Alene:

“Eating out in Coeur d’Alene is a lot like home delivery of the Coeur d’Alene Press. Both deserve a tip for good service, both make sub-minimum wage (the carriers are private contractors, but you get the point). Those bags and rubber bands are paid for by your carrier. But there are the hidden services. These carriers are the extra eyes and ears of the community. They call in the drunk drivers, the prowlers, obvious water leaks, downed power lines...”

With Santa way up north starting final preparations for his annual midnight run, please consider making the season just a little brighter for people you might never see but who always keep an eye out for you. They’re young parents with small children, senior citizens cobbling together enough income to pay for life’s necessities, and everything in between.

Please call the Press Circulation Office, 208-664-0220, to see how you can get your small gift into the right hands.