Our View: It’s What A Hometown Paper Does

Checking out stories on our webpage, you might have noticed a floating button that reads, “Need Help? Chat With Us.” Last week, a reader in need did exactly that.

 That feature really aims to help subscribers access their account or learn how to use the website. It’s staffed by real people, our partners at the Community Journalism Project, who handle most of the inquiries on their own. Occasionally, a reader will have a question about local history, or they will request a photo reprint or make a comment about our reporting, and these inquiries are sent to Cape Cod Chronicle staffers to answer. We pride ourselves on being accessible — when our phone system is working, at least — and we reply to these website inquiries pretty quickly.

 Early last Friday morning, a reader from the Mid-Cape clicked the “Chat with Us” link to send a different kind of message. She said she had recently and unexpectedly been widowed and is in the midst of recovering from major surgery. For various logistical reasons, she was unable to visit a food pantry and said she needed help with groceries, just for the six weeks or so of her recovery, but she couldn’t find an agency that would deliver food to her. Further, she said, her phone service has been off, so she’s been unable to call for help.

 The Community Journalism Project forwarded the woman’s message to The Chronicle, which passed it on to Christine Menard of the Family Pantry of Cape Cod, who promptly emailed her with some instructions and an introduction to Barnstable County’s food access coordinator. That staffer reached out almost immediately with an offer to have a care package of food delivered right away. The whole process took place in a few hours’ time.

 When you support local, hometown journalism, you’re not just investing in local news and information. You’re helping connect your neighbors to community resources that can help during emergencies. We’re proud to have been a link in that chain.