Toilet paper drive at Longboat fills two cars

Longboat Island Chapel supported Stillpoint Mission's mission to serve those in need with a fundraiser focused on hygiene products.

By Dana Kampa
| 5:00 a.m. July 18, 2025

Linda Berman, board member at Stillpoint Mission, fills her car with donated toilet paper from members of Longboat Island Chapel on July 15.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Longboaters filled two vehicles driven by Stillpoint Mission President Gary Scott and board member Linda Berman to bursting with donated rolls of toilet paper as part of parishioners' latest charity drive.

Longboat Island Chapel and the Bradenton-based nonprofit have worked together many times over the years, most recently organizing a food drive at the church in April.

Stillpoint Mission President Gary Scott shares how working with the entirely volunteer-run nonprofit has enriched his life.

Stillpoint Mission supports the community by providing food, hygiene items and some essential utility bill support to those in need.

Scott and Berman shared updates on the nonprofit's efforts to support residents, including an upcoming back-to-school backpack drive.

The group is distributing 800 supply-filled backpacks to students on July 28, along with $25 vouchers for children to get new shoes before starting the semester.

"All our activities are possible with your help," said Scott, who on July 9 celebrated the 37th anniversary of marrying his wife at Longboat Island Chapel.

But the focus of the July 15 meet-up was collecting as many toilet rolls as possible.

Longboat Island Chapel Rev. Brock Patterson helps pack up donations from congregation members.

Scott said some people seeking assistance get in line as early as 4 a.m. on distribution days, highlighting the significant need for resources in the community.

"We serve food to anyone who needs it," he said. "We don't ask for IDs for the food pantry or have any other requirements. If they're there, we feed them."

Stillpoint only requests identification for those requesting assistance with water and electricity bills.

Volunteers dole out frozen dinners from Meals on Wheels, as well as shelf-stable staples from other organizations and individuals, toilet paper, bread, bags of rice and beans, juice, fruit and vegetables.

"It's rewarding to me to see people walking away with a box, enough to feed their family for the week," said Scott, who helps with the Friday food distribution.

This month's Gather and Give charity drive focused on collecting toilet paper for Stillpoint Mission. Even with many members away for the season, Longboat Island Chapel filled two cars with donations.

Berman spoke to the community's need for diapers, both youth- and adult-sized. Stillpoint distributes hygiene products on Wednesdays. Originally, the group handed them out at the same time as the food pantry distribution, but demand rose to a high enough degree to merit its own day.

"For infants, parents do need to show a birth certificate to show their child is under the age of 3, along with ID to show they are a parent," she said. "Honestly, we give out supplies for at least 200 children every Wednesday."

She said Stillpoint is most in need of larger sizes in 4, 5 and 6.

The nonprofit distributes everything it can, especially focusing on the needs of area families. While it does distribute infant formula, Scott said volunteers end up giving out donations as quickly as they receive them.

Berman and Scott invited Longboaters to pay a visit and lend a hand to see the impact donors have in the community.

For more information about the nonprofit's mission and volunteer opportunities, visit StillpointMission.org.

author

Dana Kampa

Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.