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$12K of appreciation for 89-year-old Papa John's deliveryman

Photo: iStock

September 28, 2020

An 89-year-old Papa John's delivery driver's story is giving a pandemic-weary world some much needed hope for a better future after customers on his route launched TikTok-centered campaign to raise a mammoth "tip" of more than $12,000 for the friendly Utah-based pizza chain employee, according to CNN.

Derlin Newey delivers pizzas in Roy, Utah about 30 hours a week to supplement his social security benefits. Among his customers is the Valdez family that typically records Newey's deliveries via short videos on TikTok where Newey accumulated more than 50,000 followers (up to this recent news wave, that is). The Valdez family started a campaign to raise money for him so he wouldn't have to work so much and recently presented a signed check to him from his "TikTok Family."

Newey, who didn't know what TikTok was, was stunned by the gift. His story is making the rounds worldwide where its ripple effects are giving followers on TikTok, Twitter and elsewhere, reasons to believe in a better tomorrow.