The St. Louis Call celebrates its 31st anniversary this year with a new name, masthead, website, circulation and, just as any other business in South County, a will to innovate and survive the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Call continues to publish weekly print editions as other newspapers have ceased print publication. To save time and money, the five mastheads that long made up the newspaper — the Oakville Call, Concord Call, SunCrest Call, Green Park Call and Mail Call — were consolidated under a single name, the St. Louis Call, in June.

But the newspaper that goes out to 50,000 mailboxes is still the same one that has served South County for more than 30 years, with a focus on the schools, government and issues that affect our area of the world.

The Call has long been provided free to readers through the loyal support of advertisers, some of whom have built their entire businesses advertising in these pages. But as businesses were forced to shut down completely or provide reduced or different services during the pandemic — a continuing challenge as the virus spikes in South County — the newspaper has innovated with a subscription model to make up for lost advertising dollars.

The large monthly newspaper is delivered free to 50,000 readers in ZIP codes 63129, 63128, 63127, 63126 and part of 63123. But The Call is still publishing every week in a rotating circulation edition that is sent to subscribers. Subscriptions are available for $20.20 for 12 months, a price that just covers mailing costs. Subscribe through the subscription form at www.callnewspapers.com/subscribe.

Through Aug. 28, readers can also make tax-deductible donations to The Call at callnewspapers.com/donate.

Every article we publish is provided free here on our website, which is accessible 24/7. Sign up for our free enewsletter at www.callnewspapers.com/subscribe.

Despite obstacles, community journalism is thriving in St. Louis County. The Call is still the newspaper that has provided you with information about your community for decades, but now it could use your subscriptions and donations.

We still always stand by our longtime mission statement for you, our readers: “We dedicate ourselves to the public, holding its welfare in the highest regard and standing firmly in opposition to those who would oppose it.”