Covid-19 closed our borders and many businesses, but it has failed to close our eyes to the latent potential our region has to emerge, strongly, from a new recession.
Livelihoods have been lost and the future for many seems — and is — increasingly uncertain, but that does not mean the worst effects of the pandemic are inevitable.
Daily, thousands of dedicated people are defying the ever-recalculated odds and working hard to keep some of the most vital parts of our communities going.
They are the driving force behind the countless charities and not-for-profit organisations that serve our communities, and who help make where we live better.
They worked hard before the pandemic but now, like so many of our businesses, they must prepare for — and be ready to meet — tough times ahead.
Allied Press, publisher of the Otago Daily Times and a sizeable stable of community newspapers, wants to help them face the future.
Allied Press has created a $100,000 advertising subsidy fund exclusively for charities and not-for-profit organisations, as part of our $3 million Support Local Campaign.
The fund can be used for advertising across any Allied Press platform, including the ODT, local community newspapers or online at www.odt.co.nz.
Successful applicants can use the fund to promote future events and fundraisers, call for volunteers or even describe their work — whatever they need to say to their community.
Application forms can be found at odt.co.nz/supportlocalcharities.
More than 500 businesses have sought support from the Support Local fund. Our new fund will further help other groups that have a positive impact on so many lives.
The Otago Daily Times has been serving your community for more than 158 years. We are proud of that, but we could not have done it without you and the groups you support.
Throughout this pandemic, as through the years of triumph and tribulation that have shaped our communities, we are stronger, together.
- Barry Stewart, Allied Press editor-in-chief
