What the Ladysmith and District Arts Council and Food Bank folks were hoping to be a record breaker turned into a wipe-out.
For the month of February, the month of ‘love’, the two groups, along with partner Ladysmith Secondary School, canvassed the community for toilet paper.
“Each year the Arts Council does something with art and community," Council director Kathy Holmes said. "The program is called ‘love’. We noticed that in February donations to the food bank were low, so we decided to talk to the Food Bank and see how we could help. The toilet paper drive was a suggestion of the Food Bank Executive Director Eliina Alle, and we thought it was something everyone could relate to and a fun project for February. The Food Bank needed toilet paper and we thought, what fun. Our artists created Valentines for the clients and we got busy asking for toilet paper.”
The goal for the 2025 event was 2,000 rolls but by the end 4,144 rolls were dropped off at the Ladysmith Food Bank.
Last year, the first year for the event, the community donated just over 1,500 rolls of TP.
"Our community is very generous and I love when I have the opportunity to chat with people and show them our food bank so they can truly understand what they are a part of with every donation no matter how big or small,” said Eliina Alle, executive director of the Ladysmith Food Bank.
Packages of TP were dropped off at the Art Gallery, the food bank, the high school, Motus Fitness and people were also taking them into the downtown Pharmasave. The Pharmasave also initiated a ‘round it up’ program for TP.
“We raised $688.69 on the round up program," said store manager Steve Wilkinson. "We did have people who brought toilet paper in as well and put them into our donation box. We had people who bought toilet paper in the store and put it in the donation box and Pharmasave donated $175 as well.”
Tylor Nelson, from Motus Fitness, challenged his fitness classes that for every roll they donated he would do a burpee. In a very short couple of weeks Tylor along with Motus member, Jodi Westmacott, performed 424 burpees in 50 minutes and 28 seconds and that matched the 424 rolls of TP that their efforts and support from the fitness centre’s members brought in.
“We are very fortunate that both local stores, Country Grocer and Save-On-Foods really support us," Alle said. "When we need to buy food to help keep our shelves stocked both stores give us amazing deals....They make our dollars go a real long way.”
As they did last year, the students at Ladysmith Secondary School also got on board and held a classroom to classroom competition. The students renamed the program to “toonies for toilet paper” and at the end of the day they raised enough money (along with toilet paper) to turn over 796 rolls of TP to the Food Bank.
Toilet paper isn't something the food bank is always able to offer.
“We had been spending a good chunk of our budget on TP but with not nearly meeting the need we made the difficult decision to use our money on food, hoping that would free up some of our clients' budget to buy toilet paper," Alle explained. "So currently we rely on donations and are only able to offer TP if we have it donated.”
The amount of toilet paper raised is great, said Alle, but so is the need.
In February the food bank fed 1,376 people.
Holmes said all of Ladysmith got on board with the fundraiser, including Microtel Hotel at Oyster Bay, Ladysmith RCMP, Downtown Ladysmith Pharmasave, Mactier Realty Group, Ladysmith Lions Club, Kinsmen Club of Ladysmith, Ladysmith Rotary Club, SD68 CUPE 606, Ladysmith Secondary School, Save on Foods, Motus Fitness, Country Grocer, Arts Council of Ladysmith and District and many individuals.
"This project actually made people smile and were happy to contribute," Holmes said. "Our goal was 2,000 rolls this year and Ladysmith flushed that right from the start!”
Alle said other items the food bank is always in need of include toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, tooth brushes, dish soap and laundry soap.
"These items our guests get very limited, or when we have enough for everyone," she said. "The bulk of our staples shelves are purchased items to ensure we have regular pantry items every week. Protein options — tinned meats, peanut butter, beans are an inexpensive protein — but we have to consider what the other ingredients are for those recipes and if we have them available. Seasonings and other ingredients are a big factor. Tinned fruit and veggies, Mr. Noodles are a big staple because they are inexpensive and you can add other items to it to make a more complete meal easily, adding a protein and veggies.
“I want to thank everyone that donated, delivered, counted and was a part of the great TP event this year," Alle said. "An incredible show of support to the community. I can't imagine what next year will look like, we will need to rent a bigger space for all the TP.”
