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(Des Moines, IA) -- The time between Christmas and the new year is important for Iowa restaurants. That includes ownership, but also for the people who work there.
Jessica Dunker is with the Iowa Restaurant Association.
"People are putting on this wonderful experience for you," Dunker says. "If you could remember them for the holidays because they do have a significant portion of their income coming from tips."
Restaurants themselves are operating on thin margins due to the rising costs of food, according to Dunker.
"Some of the data that has also been interesting to us is that part of the reason, of course, is that you want to give whoever's the cook a break," Dunker says. "But also, it's a way that people feel like they can really support local establishments."