Right now, many Vermonters are facing the impossible choice of buying food or paying for other essentials like heat and housing. Thursday is the last day to join our Thanksgiving member drive and make a special impact with your donation. We are so close to reaching our goal of funding local news and sending 5,000 meals to the Vermont Foodbank, but time is running out. Will you help us reach our goal?Donate & send mealsThe need for food assistance from the Vermont Foodbank and its partners has increased steadily over the past two years, driven by factors including inflation, the housing shortage and the lasting impact of recent floods.The Vermont Foodbank has seen unprecedented demand this year, distributing over 14.5 million pounds of food — a significant increase from previous years. In some areas of Vermont hit hard by flooding, like parts of the Northeast Kingdom, families are not only seeking food, but also water and other items to meet their basic needs.At VTDigger, we’re committed to reporting on the challenges our communities face, and with your help, we can do even more. Your support fuels our journalism and helps put food on the table for families struggling this holiday season.$25 provides 1 meal and supports local journalism. $50 provides 5 meals and strengthens VTDigger’s reporting. $100 provides 25 meals for neighbors in need and sustains investigative news.Donate & send mealsIn the last quarter century, Vermont has lost 75% of its newspaper jobs, leaving many communities without reliable news sources. This decline — mirrored in other rural areas across the country — has profound consequences for our democracy. When local news disappears, public accountability suffers, misinformation spreads and citizens are left in the dark.VTDigger is working hard to fill this gap, but we can’t do it without your help. By supporting us, you’re helping rebuild the local news coverage our state needs — and providing meals to families facing hunger.Join us in ensuring that Vermont’s democracy remains strong and that no one in our community goes hungry.Sincerely,Paul HeintzEditor in chief, VTDiggerRead the story on VTDigger here: This Thanksgiving, too many Vermonters are facing an impossible choice.