By The Wayland Post Staff
As Thanksgiving nears and kitchens fill with the scent of roasted squash and cranberry sauce, The Wayland Post has its own reason to give thanks: community support for local journalism has reached a record-breaking $189,076 in commitments from 506 unique donors.
The season of generosity was on full display Oct. 22 at The Villa Restaurant, where more than 100 residents gathered for a lively Trivia Night to benefit The Post. Between laughter, friendly rivalry, and a shared meal, the event raised $1,500 for independent local reporting. The celebration capped a two-month fundraising drive that brought in $35,000 to support continued coverage of Wayland’s government, schools, and community life.
“So far, 553 individual donations from Wayland’s 5,000 households have powered this community effort,” organizers said. “That’s fewer than ten percent of the town—but the spirit behind it is remarkable. Every new donor helps us illuminate local issues that touch every resident.”
The Wayland Post relies primarily on its readers to sustain operations. Advertising has contributed another $29,000, but the newspaper’s strength continues to come from its supporters. Those contributions make possible the kind of civic reporting that explains budgets, questions projects, and highlights the people who make Wayland special.
Support at every level matters. A $20 monthly gift covers printing and mailing for one household. A $500 annual pledge funds a week of reporting, and $2,500 underwrites an investigative series—like those exploring water quality, development, and fiscal management.
As families gather this Thanksgiving, The Post invites readers to see local news as part of the community table—something to be shared, sustained, and passed forward. “When you give to the paper, you’re not just donating,” said one volunteer. “You’re helping to preserve Wayland’s story, page by page, meeting by meeting.”
Because The Wayland Post is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity, donations are tax-deductible and eligible for employer matching gifts—a simple way to double one’s impact. Many area companies will match employee donations dollar for dollar; a brief conversation with your HR department can help make it happen.
The vision is straightforward: 1,500 contributors giving $240 each could fully sustain a professional newsroom dedicated to Wayland’s civic life. Reliable, independent reporting—steady as the seasons and grounded in local truth—depends on a community that values being informed.
This Thanksgiving, The Wayland Post extends heartfelt thanks to its readers, advertisers, and volunteers. Their generosity and trust remain the brightest lights of all, ensuring that watchdog journalism continues to thrive in Wayland.
Joy Viola Dudley Pond Sustaining Member Jane Rogers Heard Pond Supporting Member Phyllis Milburn Great Meadows Community Member Karen Vachon Great Meadows Community Member Ginger Ale Greenways Member Nancy Allen Greenways Member Don Chase Greenways Member Jen and Bill Dowling Greenways Member Carolyn Drapkin Greenways Member Clarke Fitts Greenways Member Timothy Flacke Greenways Member Andrea J. Garvey Greenways Member Candace Hetzner Greenways Member Emily Kristofek Greenways Member Tim Largy Greenways Member Vivian Marowitz Greenways Member Mark McKinley Greenways Member Swarmand Sing Greenways Member Penny Wayne-Shapiro Greenways Member
