TP North Bay will be holding its annual toilet paper drive virtually this year.
Ellen Faulkner, Chair of TP North Bay says that she is hoping the public will get behind this year’s event, which is taking place at a different time of year.
“I’m glad to see we’re doing our 2020 campaign, our seventh year, we’re glad we didn’t have to exit out,” she said.
TP North Bay’s drive normally happens in May, but the pandemic disrupted plans. Faulkner says that she thought that they wouldn’t be able to hold a drive this year, until Debbie Marson, Executive Director of the North Bay Food Bank, stepped up.
“We knew we had to cancel in May, then we thought we could do it in September. Well, we can’t go store to store like we used to. So with the help of Debbie, she said we could do a virtual campaign,” Faulkner explained.
Usually, the TP Drive would have Faulkner and her team go from business to business every Saturday and collect donations of toilet paper. Now, donations will be accepted online through the food bank, which will go directly towards buying toilet paper.
There will also be drop off bins at the Food Bank, Fire Station 1, Alison the Bookman and the Davedi Club.
Faulkner says that the inspiration for the drive came after she saw a similar event take place in Kingston in 2014. She adds that every year fluctuates with the amount of toilet paper collected.
Faulkner also says that vulnerable people can sometimes struggle to afford toilet paper.
“Who would think toilet paper? It’s a need, we’re glad that we can do this for people,” she said. “Here we are years later, giving toilet paper to people in need.”
The drive will kick off on September 1 and will run until the end of October.
Faulkner is hoping that the toilet-paper-buying frenzy at the beginning of the pandemic results in people being more generous now.
“I hope that people open their doors and give us lots,” she concluded.
Those wanting to donate to the drive must label their donation as “TP” at northbayfoodbank.ca/donate.
