Vindy paper route shaped Poland family’s life

By JORDYN GRZELEWSKI

jgrzelewski@vindy.com

POLAND

Residents of one township neighborhood can always count on their newspaper arriving bright and early, generally no later than 7:15 a.m.

Wherever they prefer it delivered – front porch, back door, driveway – it’ll be there waiting for them.

Their copies of The Vindicator are in the reliable hands of the Ramsey family.

Now, after 25 years delivering papers to their neighborhood, Jim and Gio Ramsey of Lee Run Road will retire from their route.

“It’s just time,” said Gio.

The Ramseys’ paper route began in 1992 with sons Jim and Jeff, now age 36 and 34. At that time, The Vindicator was an afternoon paper that the kids delivered after school.

Over the last 25 years, every member of the seven-person family – plus friends and family who have come for overnight visits – has played a part in the route.

“It was a family enterprise from the beginning,” said the elder Jim.

He recalled waking up early on weekend mornings, preparing the papers for delivery, then putting them in a wheelbarrow that he’d roll down the street. The kids would grab a few at a time and deliver them to houses.

“Then it just progressed. The way our children were spaced, there were always two kids doing the

papers,” he said.

When son Jim stopped doing the route, Jeff continued with sister Lauren, now 30. Lauren later delivered papers with younger brother Jordan, who is 27. Jordan continued the route with the Ramseys’ youngest son, Grant, now 23.

After Grant left home, the task fell to the kids’ father, who has delivered papers on his bicycle for the past few years. During the summer, the Ramseys’ grandchildren help out, too.

Jim and Gio speak fondly of the route, saying that it instilled important life lessons in their kids.

“We saw it as a good opportunity for them to get up and meet the neighbors, get some exercise, and have a little business enterprise,” said Jim.

He said his kids learned “discipline, initiative. The ability to relate to a wide spectrum – from elders to peers to anybody in between.”

They learned, too, the basics of bookkeeping and handling customer complaints, added Gio.

“Every kid has been bitten by the dog that doesn’t bite. We’ve had broken bones,” recalled Jim.

Money earned from the route helped the Ramsey children buy their own clothes, bicycles and cars, and helped with car insurance payments, college tuition, and mission trips all over the world.

The Ramseys lamented that in today’s world, it’s not common for kids to deliver papers anymore.

“It’s unfortunate that times have changed and young kids can’t do this anymore,” said Jim. “It provided opportunities for our kids. Back in the day, it provided opportunities for our generation.”

Jim and Gio also benefited. Most of all, they said, they cherish the relationships they’ve built over the years.

“I see the runners, the walkers, people watering their plants,” said Jim. “After awhile, they’re not your customers. They’re your friends.”

He decided it was time to end the tradition so he could, for the first time in a long time, have the early morning hours to himself.

The couple also looks forward to the newfound freedom that they’ll have. All four of their sons live in San Diego, Calif., so now they’ll be able to visit without hassle.

Friday will be their last day on the route. Jim will probably still wake up early on Saturday.

“I’ll have a cup of coffee and see who delivers the paper,” he said.