Come together now, support your local paper

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that read, “I’M ALREADY AGAINST THE NEXT WAR.”

I had to laugh. It sounds about right. So many of us are positional and defensive these days. It seems sometimes that the wheels are coming off the bus. Plus … who’s actually driving this bus? And where in the world are we headed?

It’s clear to see that we are a nation divided. Politics aside (if that’s even possible!), civility and kindness are no longer among our guiding principles. But here at home, we can come together. Maybe we can’t do much to affect the vitriol and acrimony roiling our nation. But we can support The Charlotte News, a vital resource that helps us understand one another in our own small Vermont town.

We certainly have our quarrels in Charlotte, but I like to think of our town as an oasis of sorts. Perhaps that’s naive, but here at the local level, we can make a difference when we “think globally, act locally.” We can build community when we support our local, nonprofit newspaper. That’s right. The Charlotte News creates connections in our town and your donation — of any amount — is an important investment in Charlotte.

There is no better time than today for you to make a contribution to the paper’s annual fund. The Lionheart Charitable Trust is matching gifts from first-time supporters dollar for dollar. That means that a $60 gift doubles to become $120. The match opportunity is limited and ends on Aug. 31.

For 67 years, this scrappy little paper has connected our community and kept us informed without a lot of drama. You may not agree with every word you read here. But at the end of the day, this public service outfit quietly goes about the business of making sure Charlotters know what’s up. In ways small and large, that brings us together.

And you know what? The teeny staff does it on a shoestring budget. It currently costs roughly $6,000 to publish each issue of The Charlotte News and to keep the website humming. It doesn’t cost readers a dime. Boom. There it is in your mailbox, your inbox, on your laptop and phone. The majority of the expense to ensure our local, nonprofit paper is alive and thriving has always been paid voluntarily by readers. As business models go, it sounds kind of crazy, but somehow it works.

Two or three donors will reach deep into their pockets (thank you!) but most of our readers make more modest contributions, and that’s as it should be. A hundred dollars here, fifty dollars there. It’s a grassroots operation and has been since the very start. This is our newspaper. We make it happen with our support.

I am so grateful to live in a town with public service, local journalism devoted exclusively to Charlotte, and I’m grateful that readers like you see the value and support it. Did I mention The Charlotte News is a nonprofit? We rely on your generosity. 

I urge you to join us, your friends and neighbors and donate today so The Charlotte News is here for us in the weeks and months to come. 

(Claudia Marshall is a former publisher and board member and an award-winning journalist.)