Charlotte is unusual — In a good way

Let’s not kid ourselves. These are not great times for local newspapers. Which is why we are asking for your help today!

The Charlotte News has enjoyed tremendous support from our community for 65 years, making it among the longest-running nonprofit newspapers in Vermont. We are so grateful for your support.

But just the other day we learned that other small, Vermont newspapers aren’t faring as well. The County Courier — billed as Franklin County’s community weekly newspaper — has shuttered its print edition, as did the Waterbury Record and the Hardwick Gazette in 2020. Nationwide, we lost 2,511 local newspapers between 2004 and 2022.

So, what happens to a small town when its newspaper disappears? Is it less cohesive? Less informed? Fortunately, Charlotte doesn’t have to find out — because readers like you have stepped up again and again to ensure that this essential, public service reporting is here when you need it, building community and fostering understanding.

So, we need your help today.

Our traditional summer fundraising campaign is off to a slow start. Have you had a chance to do your part to keep The Charlotte News going strong? If not, this is a great time to step up.

When you make your tax-deductible donation, it only takes a couple of minutes, and it doesn’t have to break the bank. Your tax-deductible gift of $10 a month or $20 a month as a sustainer would go a long way to ensuring that your community newspaper continues to grow.

And we are continuing to grow. We’ve recently overhauled our website so it’s easier to immediately find the stories that matter to you. That overhaul was not cheap. What’s it worth to you? A $50 donation? $200? Every contribution helps.

In a community as rural as ours, it pays to know about your neighbors. Plus, it’s fun! Whether you’re wondering what’s up at the waterfront, the selectboard, the school, the library, the Charlotte Senior Center or the Grange, we’ve got you covered — in the pages of the paper, in our weekly email updates and on our website.

Please pitch in and help us expand our coverage of the issues that matter to you. Giving is quick and easy at our secure website, or send your check to P.O. Box 251, Charlotte VT 05445 — in the envelope we’ve included with this newspaper.

Regardless of the amount you give, The Charlotte News is donating a meal to a neighbor in need for each gift we receive this summer, thanks to our partnership with Age Well. We expect to donate more than 100 meals in the weeks ahead, so your contribution will have an even greater impact.

If you’ve given in the past, we are so grateful. If you’ve never made a donation to the newspaper, your gift will be doubled thanks to a generous challenge grant from The Lionheart Charitable Trust, up to a total of $2,000.

So, get on board, and thank you.

We can’t do it without you!