While paper carriers are few and far between now, previous generations relied on these dutiful workers to deliver their source of news.

Kelsy Grim, a Parkland High School graduate, was one of those workers. Along with being a carrier, Grim played junior varsity softball, was a member of the Spanish National Honor Society and was on the honor roll every semester.

Her mother Melissa works for Parkland School District. Her father George is a retired school psychologist and was a paper carrier when he was young.

The Press spoke to Kelsy via email about her experience as a paper carrier in a world where now, the need for such workers is futile.

“The brother of my friend who lived across the street was a carrier of the Parkland Press,” Grim said. “When he left for college, he handed the job over to me.

“I started delivering the Parkland Press when I was 11. My route consisted of 27 weekly subscribers and not long after delivering it increased to 50-55 customers.”

Grim enjoyed delivering papers and decided to continue doing it until after high school.

“I also delivered 50 sample newspapers per week throughout eight years,” she said. “I got to know my customers and enjoyed riding the route on my bike most of the time, so I continued for eight years, until I went off to college.”

Grim attended the College of Charleston her freshman year but transferred to Temple University to be closer to family and friends, experience more diversity and live in a bigger city and save money.

She graduated cum laude from Temple in May with a double major in psychology and speech, language and hearing science.

“I plan to be a substitute in the area school districts this upcoming year while living at home,” Grim said. “I hope to attend graduate school in fall 2018 for school psychology and follow in my father’s footsteps.”

The money Grim was paid from being a carrier helped with college fees.

“The extra money earned me a cellphone and helped me save for college,” Grim said.

There are multiple benefits to being a paper carrier, whether obvious or not so obvious.

“Having a regular job that required my commitment in all types of weather taught me the value of responsibility,” Grim said. “My customers were depending on me and I did not want to let them down.”

Grim’s hard work was noticed her senior year of high school in the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association 2012 Newspaper Carrier of the Year competition.

“I was nominated in 2012 for the state award and it felt neat to be honored in a job at the age of 17,” she said.

Grim won fifth place in the youth category.

“I was the youngest carrier recognized and unfortunately, the opportunities for young people to have this introduction to work are rarely available to our next generation,” Grim said.

Grim passed on the carrier tradition to her younger sister Olivia, 14, who will be starting high school in September.

“When I left for college I passed my route to my sister who is now starting her fifth year of delivering the papers,” Grim said.

Being a paper carrier gave Grim opportunities and work ethic that will remain with her.

“I appreciate the opportunity that my parents and the Parkland Press gave me,” Grim said.