It started slow, but after a few attempts, Jonny Blue was on a roll. After reading stories about people hoarding necessities like toilet paper, the 33-year-old physical therapist took to the streets with a simple message adorned on a cardboard sign.

“Share your toilet paper,” read the sign that Blue held as he stood on a busy street in San Diego. He said, “It just inspired me to remind people, listen, if you have a lot of something that probably means there are people who probably don’t have very much of it, because you took it all. So, sharing it is probably a good thing to keep in mind.”

The community response was immediate and enthusiastic. Drivers would stop to hand over a few rolls, and just as quickly, others in need would pull up to receive a few. Blue said, “This guy came here and said he just ran out and was going to a bunch of stores and couldn’t find any. Somebody had given me some, so I gave it to him. He was stoked.”

“I think people want a sense of community. When things are really challenging, people are looking to band together and be unified. It feels like I kind of struck on a common theme where people were thinking, ‘Why are people hoarding toilet paper?’ … It’s a simple thing but it’s something that’s really tangible and really affects people’s lives, and when people saw my sign it really resonated with them.”

Possible Preaching Angle:

In times of crisis when others are tempted to hoard, God's people have an opportunity to build community by sharing basic needs with those around them.

Source:

Rob Nikolewski and Hayne Palmour IV, “An Unlikely Hero,” San Diego Tribune (3-14-20)