Toilet paper challenge proves good timing for local ministry; 600-plus rolls collected in February

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 March 2020 at 10:43 am

Hands 4 Hope also has an abundance of socks

Greg Stanton created this graphic to promote a toilet paper challenge among three sites in Orleans County.

ALBION – Jack Burris’s fun challenge last month has yielded an abundance of something in short supply: toilet paper.

Burris leads the Hands 4 Hope ministry. Each Saturday, he brings a red truck with food to one of four locations in the county. Hands 4 Hope goes to Medina, Holley and two sites in Albion each month.

Hands 4 Hope typically gives about 25 people a week a “share,” a bag of food. They usually receives two rolls of toilet paper in the share. Burris and a team of volunteers also will take prayer requests and pray with people if they want that.

Last month Burris kicked off a “Roll For The Bowl! Toilet Paper Drive” that started during the Super Bowl. Holy Family Parish in Albion, Sourced Market and Eatery in Medina, and the Holley Pharmacy.

The toilet paper drive during the month of February yielded more than 600 rolls. Holy Family edged the Sourced Market, 278 to 277. The Holley Pharmacy collected about 100.

Those rolls are being handed out now and the supply should last a while, Burris said.

Hands 4 Hope received other good news on Monday. Burris received a shipment of 2,000 socks from the Bombas company. That company donates a pair of socks for every one they sell.

Wayne Litchfield, a volunteer with Hands 4 Hope, applied for donation of socks through the company’s website. The shipment of the high-quality socks arrived in several boxes.

Burris said they will be given out throughout the year and likely shared with other ministries.

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