By Helen B. Warren

It’s November, and the Park Bugle fund drive is underway.

At press time. more than 110 donors have contributed approximately $22,000 to support community journalism since the start of our 2024-25 fiscal year. Their support is gratifying.

The staff, writers and board members of the Park Bugle offer their warm thanks for this support.

To honor the Park Bugle’s 50th anniversary, we asked donors to make a special gift in 2024. At press deadline, 52 families had donated $9,520 for our special 50th anniversary fund appeal. We’ll use these funds to replenish our cash reserves, which were tapped during the pandemic and as we launched our social media presence.

These readers understand that reliable, accurate reporting of local news is essential. They test the truth of our reporting against their own knowledge and in conversations with folks they trust.

They engage us with their questions and suggestions. Their support affirms our efforts to “turn readers into neighbors.”

Perhaps you set aside our letter requesting support or scrolled past the online appeal. Maybe you are already stretched supporting election campaigns, disaster relief, medical research or emergency assistance for the homeless and hungry.

Or maybe like me, your fridge died, and funds that might go to the Bugle had to help you replace it.

If you don’t think you can afford to support the Bugle this year, consider this: If 1/10 of our 8,000 readers each gave $25, their gifts would total $20,000. Believe me, that goes a long way at the Bugle.

So, if you can’t manage a big gift, make a small one. And then tell your friends and neighbors that you made it.

Your influence over their choices is almost certainly greater than mine. The fact that you support local journalism will likely incline others to do the same. 

Helen Warren lives in St. Anthony Park and is presiding officer of the Park Bugle board of directors.