A story from Indiana illustrates a point we often make on Upworthy: even though some people do wrong, there are far more folks willing to do what’s right. Back in January, Connor Stephanoff, an employee for Rock Star Pizza in Indiana, braved his way a half mile through a snowstorm wearing sneakers and sweatpants to deliver $40 worth of pizza to a home in an affluent neighborhood.
All he got for a tip was $2.
Officer Richard Craig, who goes by Officer Craig on TikTok, saw the deliveryman’s incredible effort to get the pizza to the right home, recorded it on video, and posted it to TikTok. His dedication astounded the officer, but he couldn’t believe how the young man was treated. “Look at this man. This man walked through hell and high water to deliver a pizza,” Craig said in the video. But he was shocked to learn how cheap the tip was. “Absolutely insane. Do better, folks,” he said.
People can’t believe that he only got a $2 tip
Commenters were appalled:
“2.00?????? I would never tip someone only $2.00, no matter the day. Ridiculous”
“Unwritten rule- If the weather is preventing YOU from driving to get your order don’t make someone else do it. Or at least tip generously!!!”
“Damn, I don’t tip $2 on a normal day. I hope The person that did this sees this is and is ashamed.”
NerdWallet suggests that people tip a pizza delivery person the amount they’d pay for a regular sit-down dinner, 15% to 20%. However, it notes that you should add more if the pizza is delivered in poor weather conditions. So, in this situation, the people who received the pizza should have at least tipped $7, which is still cheap considering the weather.
The officer then posted a follow-up video (since deleted) that gave a better look at the icy terrain Stephanoff had to walk through. He noted that he was in an affluent neighborhood where most people should be able to afford a decent tip, especially for a guy who went above and beyond.
Craig started a GoFundMe campaign for Stephanoff
“I witnessed firsthand the work ethic, dedication, and determination by this young man while I was on the scene of a crash during Friday’s snowstorm here in Indiana,” he wrote on the GoFundMe page. “He received just a $2 tip – from a home in a very affluent neighborhood.”
“I ran to my police vehicle to grab my wallet to give him the little cash that I had (about $15) which I didn’t feel is enough,” he added. “I would LOVE to raise at least $500 for this guy!”
The fundraiser has earned him $45,575. “Thank you all for your kindness and donations!” Stephanoff wrote on the GoFundMe page.
Stephanoff’s heroic effort to deliver a pizza earned him praise from his boss, Rock Star Pizza manager Ron Mathews. “He wasn’t here in the restaurant; he had no idea people were watching him. But he got out, walked it to the house, and came back without any expectations,” Mathews told WRTZ.
The pizzeria’s owner also noted that he could have taken the day off due to the weather. “At no point did we force anyone to come to work or deliver. There is no pressure or implication that there will be repercussions for not coming to work due to weather.”
After Stephanoff saw the donations racking up, he couldn’t believe it. He told Today.com that he planned to use the money to buy a car so he wouldn’t have to use his grandmother’s. He would also like to use some of it to pay for his education.
Matthews told NBC affiliate WSAZ that Stepahnoff’s story is a reminder that many folks have it rough these days and to look out for one another. “Everyone is going through it tough. Everyone has it. It could be you. It could be the delivery driver. But at the end of the day, we’re all people,” he said. “Just be nice to the next person.”
This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated.
