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A couple of years ago, one of our long-time EChO supporter families was walking through the food pantry when something caught their attention.
A simple shelf.
Stocked with toilet paper.
And a small sign that read: “limit one.”
They asked us why.
We told them the truth: toilet paper is one of those items that rarely shows up in food or supply drives. It’s not glamorous. It’s not top-of-mind. And when it does come in, it disappears quickly, especially when you’re serving 350 households each week.
So, we rationed it. One per household. Stretch it as far as we could.
They paused for a moment.
Then they said something simple and extraordinary:
“If you take down that sign, we’ll make sure you always have enough.”
And they meant it.
Since that day, we have never had to put that sign back up.
They deliver it by the pallet. We tuck it into every available corner of EChO—closets, storage rooms, anywhere we can find space. And if you ask our clients, they’ll tell you with a smile: it’s the good stuff. Not the cheapest option. Not barely-get-by quality. Real, dignified, everyday comfort.
Around here, we call them our toilet paper angels.
But what they really are… are rebels.
Because in a world that says “scarcity,” they chose abundance.
In a system that quietly accepts limits, they removed one.
In a moment that could have stayed small, they made it transformational.
Hope is a small rebellion.
Sometimes that rebellion looks like housing, or food, or case management.
And sometimes… it looks like toilet paper.
It looks like dignity restored in the smallest, most human ways.
It looks like someone seeing a need and refusing to accept it as inevitable.
And the truth is, this kind of rebellion isn’t reserved for a few.
It’s available to all of us.
So, here’s my question for you:
Where might you remove a “limit one” sign in someone else’s life?
Because your act, whatever it is, might be the very thing that turns scarcity into abundance for someone else.
Every act matters. Every gift pushes back against the narrative that there isn’t enough.
And sometimes, the most powerful rebellions…
start with something as simple as toilet paper.
With gratitude,
Dale
I invite you to take part in our Rebels of Hope Mid-Year Campaign. We are seeking 100 individuals to step forward with a leadership gift of $2,500 between now and the end of May. Thanks to a generous supporter, the first 10 of these gifts will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling their impact. And of course, a gift of any size helps ensure that EChO can continue to serve our neighbors with dignity and care.
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