You pay good money to stream movies. But you don’t watch them every day.
You’ve got an Amazon Prime membership. Even with free shipping, hopefully you don’t shop daily.
Yet odds are high that “06880” is part of your everyday routine.
“06880” is your 24/7/365 hyper-local blog. We haven’t missed a day since we began 16 years ago this month, way back in 2009.
How much do you pay for this service?
From the beginning, “06880” has followed the NPR model. We rely on your support, at whatever level you feel comfortable.
Some readers pay $50, $100 or $365 a year. A few pay more.
Some contribute $10, $20 or $30 a month.
Several “06880” readers donate through personal foundations. Others give matching grants, through their employers.
The vast majority of readers, though, give nothing.
They read “06880” every day. They love it. But, for whatever reason — forgetfulness, not realizing our funding model, the thrill of getting something for nothing — they don’t contribute to Westport’s most popular source of news, events, features, profiles, history, and bad parking jobs.
Reader support allows “06880” to survive and thrive. It pays for internet hosting, computer software and IT help, insurance freelancers — and the salary of the founder and executive editor, yours truly.
I’m 16. Well, my blog is, anyway. (Photo/Pam Einarsen)
“06880” is a labor of love. For 16 years — long enough, if this blog were a Westport kid, to grow up, get to Staples and earn a driver’s licesne — I’ve researched, written, edited, taken and cropped photos, monitored the comments section, and answered your emails.
Along the way, I’ve posted over 18,500 stories.
With “06880”‘s growth, that now takes 8 to 10 hours a day. It’s my full-time job.
I don’t have big meals. But I still have to eat.
I also need clothes, gas, and a roof over my head.
So whether you’re a loyal supporter (thank you so much!), an occasional contributor (ditto!), or one who (ahem) prefers to spend all your money on streaming services and Amazon Prime — thanks for reading this far.
This is our annual fundraising appeal. Now just read a little bit further, to learn how to contribute to your favorite — and several times daily — hyper-local blog.
As a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, we offer tax-deductibility to the extent allowed by law. In addition to individual contributions, we can accept corporate matching funds, and foundation grants.
You can donate by PayPal or credit card: click here. It’s easy, safe — and you don’t even need a PayPal account.
Checks can be mailed to “06880”: PO Box 744, Westport, CT 06881.
We’re also on Venmo: @blog06880
You can even scan this QR code:
Whichever method you choose: Thank you!
And tomorrow we go back to our regular programming.