We’ve made huge progress with our COVID-19 campaign. Can you help us reach our goal?
To our readers:
We launched our COVID-19 Local News Fund on April 23, in an effort to sustain our coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. Today, three weeks later, we have made it more than three-quarters of the way to our goal.
It sounds trite to say we couldn’t have gotten here without you. In fact, we wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without you.
We are grateful for your support.
Although this campaign came at a dire time, like many uplifting stories that have bubbled up in the past couple of months, it’s just one more testament to how our community can rally around a common cause.
Personally, it’s been a delight to connect and talk with readers from all over the county who shared kind words and pitched in with donations of all sizes.
You have been upbeat, encouraging and even downright surprising at times.
Like the time I asked one reader how much she wanted to donate, and she said $1,000. Wow.
Or the time another reader said she wanted to donate $500 ... on one condition — that we find someone who had to cancel their subscription because they couldn’t afford it so that she could pay to restart it for them. Double wow. We made that happen the same day.
Or the time after making a donation that a reader asked for help with an even more meaningful gesture of generosity: Could we connect them to some undocumented families? The couple wanted to donate their stimulus checks. Triple wow. We’re working on that one.
All of this is to say we live in an amazing place filled with people who look out for each other.
Many in our community are facing unprecedented challenges, and there are all kinds of ways you can help.
Support local businesses as they open. Add something extra to those tips when you’re able to sit down at a restaurant again. Look out for your neighbor, if they need a helping hand, a trip to the grocery store, whatever.
We hope to reach our goal soon. If you haven’t donated yet and would like to, visit givebutter.com/sanluisobispo, or even better, give me a call, if you need assistance or want to send in a check. You can reach me at 805-781-7911.
Every little bit helps, and every dollar goes directly to our newsroom, which in turn comes back to you in the form of essential journalism that will keep you and your family safe.
As always, thank you so much for your kindness and support. Take care and stay safe.
Joe Tarica, editor
Local news has never been more important. If you value our work, consider a digital subscription. It’s just $0.99 a month for the first 2 months.
