Can You Spare a Square?

Once a year, the Sacramento nonprofit scene becomes aflutter with talk of a critical matter: toilet paper! That’s right–toilet paper. Like paper clips and copy paper, local nonprofits can’t live without the stuff. But it costs money they’d rather be spending on programs, like saving cuddly kittens or helping homeless women find jobs.

Can you spare a square? If so, today is the official drop-off day for the annual United Way toilet paper drive. Last year they brought in 50,000 rolls (that’s a lot of squares!). This year, they’re challenging the community to help them bring in 60,000.

The drive will take place today (Thursday) until 7 p.m. at the Cal Expo main entrance, 1600 Exposition Boulevard in Sacramento. The rolls will be distributed the following week to United Way’s certified nonprofit partners in Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties. For more information, visit www.yourlocalunitedway.org/tp-drive.

Toilet Paper Saves Lives

If you’re living on a budget, you might have done the unthinkable to get by in these tough times: switched to cheap toilet paper. Going from soft to scratchy is the ultimate fiscal sacrifice.

So imagine how local nonprofits must feel. These budget-savvy agencies (they don’t call them “non” profit for nothing!) have been penny-pinching on their toilet paper budgets all along. In these tough times, there’s really nowhere else to cut back. So when cuts have to be made, agencies look to their life-saving programs.

“It’s amazing the number of expenses nonprofits face that people don’t think about,” said Steve Heath, president of United Way California Capital Region. “Nonprofits work magic with their budgets to make a positive difference in countless lives in our region, but there’s only so much they can do. Donating toilet paper is a great way to join together… ensuring more money goes toward vital programs that change people’s lives.”

Save a life with your toilet paper! (Did you ever think you’d hear that phrase uttered?) Continue reading “Toilet Paper Saves Lives”