An Open Letter To Grand Junction Toilet Paper Hoarders

I have a few thoughts to share with those people who have gone a little overboard with their toilet paper purchases.

I realize this probably applies to a small percentage of the population, but the actions of the few have dramatically affected the lives of the many. I want to make it perfectly clear right off the bat that this is not a crazy, angry rant. We see enough of that on social media.

The first thing I want to say is that I understand the feelings of fear and anxiety that are filling the hearts of a lot of Americans. We are dealing with an unprecedented event, and facing an uncertain future. We don't know know what tomorrow looks like and we don't know how far and how deep the coronavirus pandemic is going to reach.

What we do know is that there will be a tomorrow and everything will be OK. We just have to be patient, prudent, compliant, and calm. Buying more toilet paper than any family actually needs results in a failing grade in three of the aforementioned items. It is not being patient, prudent, or calm. The ramifications of those actions are creating a hardship for a good many people.

What we have right now is a lot of people who need toilet paper and are struggling to find it. They aren't out to wipe (no pun intended) the store shelves or unnecessarily stock up on a ridiculous supply of tissue. They just want to buy enough to get them through the next two to three weeks. But, they can't do that when we have people who are still loading up their shopping cart with three or four big packages of toilet paper. Which is way more than even the Brady Bunch would need.

So what I want to say to those the compulsion to load up their garage with toilet paper is "Stop it!" You are not buying out of need, you are buying out of irrational fear you allowed to grip your heart. You are hurting way more people than you realize and it is completely unnecessary.

Some stores are finally stepping up and limiting toilet paper purchases. It would help the situation if every toilet paper retailer would do the same. It would also help the situation if everyone would take a step back, take a deep breath, relax, calm down and buy only what you need. There is nothing wrong with having a little extra, but for the sake of all your neighbors, please don't buy it all at once.

We're all in this together. Let's all start acting like it.