For 10 years, Wareham Week and its website have been free to readers. That’s not going to change. But, in this extraordinary time, we need to ask readers to help keep us up and running.

Wareham Week and sister papers Sippican Week and Dartmouth Week are free to read because they have been 100% advertiser supported. 

Now, precautions to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus have essentially closed the local economy. Necessary for public health, shutdown orders were a crushing blow to most businesses. Advertising revenue will no longer be able to cover our basic expenses: Staff pay, printing, website hosting.

Last Sunday afternoon, we launched a GoGetFunding.com campaign seeking donations from supporters to help the three papers keep operating through what promises to be a very tough time. We’re asking for $50,000 – a conservative guestimate of what will be needed to fill the gap in the next 10 to 12 weeks.

Thus far, the response has been tremendously, tear-inducingly gratifying. In just the first 24 hours, dozens of you made contributions ranging from $5 to $500, totaling more than $2,000. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I am writing today to urge you to keep the contributions coming. If you are reading this, you know what that money buys in terms of on-the-ground coverage of Wareham news. Please help make sure our reporters stay on the job for you!

To donate, click here or mail a check to Wareham Week, 219C Main St., Wareham, MA 02571.