Hi everyone! Editor-in-Chief Wm. Steven Humphrey here.

First I want to offer my most hopeful wishes to everyone who's being affected by COVID-19. It's a crazy, scary time—but everyone here at the Mercury is rooting for you and hoping you're taking good care of yourself.

Now some personal news about us: I won't beat around the bush—the Mercury needs your help. The growing intensity of COVID-19—paired with recent advice from Gov. Kate Brown and the Oregon Health Authority to avoid congregating in large groups—has and is taking a heavy toll on our ability to support our business. To put a finer point on it, our entire business model revolves around you congregating with others... going to restaurants, seeing shows, watching movies, shopping at local stores—these advertisers are the lifeblood of the Mercury. And if they're hurting, we're hurting.

That's why I have a two-fold request: 1) Support local businesses in any way you can that keeps you safe. They, and and their employees, need your help right now. 2) If you have the means, donate to the Mercury so we can keep providing you with important, up-to-the minute news and snappy entertainment suggestions that you've enjoyed (for free!) for the past 20 years. Make no mistake: We realize that we're not entitled to have a business, and there are many others who also need your sympathy and concern. However, we take our devotion to informing and entertaining you VERY seriously, and we want to keep doing it as long as we're able.

So the time to donate is RIGHT NOW. Producing the Mercury has never been easy, but with much of our revenue stream being gutted by the fallout from COVID-19, it's going to be very difficult for us to continue without your immediate help. If you have the means, please donate what you can and if you're feeling especially generous, we have a way for you to make recurring donations.

The city needs strong coverage of local news more than ever before. Help us to continue helping you by donating. Thank you so much, and have we told you lately that we adore you? WE ADORE YOU.

Yer always pal,
Wm. Steven Humphrey