Charlottetown library opens 'comfort cabinet' stocked with everyday essentials

The Rotary Club of Charlottetown Royalty and Rotary Club of Charlottetown have a long history of funding initiatives in the community.

Both clubs meet weekly at the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre, and earlier this year decided to look at their own meeting space as a place where they could help make a difference.

"We have a committee called community outreach and we meet at the library, so we thought we should ask the library if there was a need," said Debbie Phillips, a volunteer with the Rotary Club of Charlottetown Royalty.

It didn't take long before librarian Beth Clinton helped the group come up with the idea for a "comfort cabinet."

What is a comfort cabinet?

"With the popularity of different food pantries in the province, we sort of came up with this idea," said Clinton. "[Of] doing not food but comfort things or hygiene items, so like toothpaste, toothbrushes, that sort of thing."

Clinton says the idea wasn't hers alone, but rather borrowed from other libraries that have started similar projects.

So, the comfort cabinet was born. The cabinet can be accessed by anyone who comes into the space, whether they have a library card or not.

The comfort cabinet is in a quiet back corner of the library so folks can take what they need without judgement. (Mitch Cormier/CBC)

"With libraries being a more open place, it's very non-judgmental," Clinton said. "Because you could be in the library for any reason, you don't have to be coming in just for that."

Proof that someone cares

Phillips made the initial purchases for the caring cabinet. She started with basics like soap and shampoo, socks, and diapers.

"I found some great deals," she said. "I was clearing the shelves at certain stores."

Once the cabinet was set up, in a quiet hallway toward the back of the library, the Rotarians got a sense of what was most needed.

"I picked everything that I thought people might need and then let the library tell me what the popular items were," Phillips said.

Clinton says the library always knew there was a need in the community, and it meets the library's goal of offering not just reading material but helping those in need.

"We are no longer in any way just books," she said. "We love lending books, but we have become much more of a community gathering space, a community hub.

"And we try to offer things like this that meet other needs in the community."

The cabinet is stocked for people in all stages of life, from diapers to period products, to sunscreen and hats when available. (Mitch Cormier/CBC)

Phillips said all the members of both clubs were in favour of helping fund the comfort cabinet. It's similar to other initiatives they help with, like the community fridge.

"Every time you make a donation, whether it be to the cabinet or the fridge, you're telling the community that somebody cares," she said.

Keeping it going through donations

Phillips and the two Rotary clubs kicked off the comfort cabinet with a donation of $3,600.

"Our mandate is to find a need and help it get started, not necessarily to be there to fund something forever," she said.

Now that the library knows it will be well-used, Clinton says the continued operation of the caring cupboard will depend on donations from the community of new, unopened items.

Librarian Bath Clinton stocks the comfort cabinet at the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre. (Mitch Cormier/CBC)

"Even if we are full up on toothpaste right now, we will eventually need more. So that you don't have to worry about specifically what we're low on," she said.

"We're always low on shaving cream … toothpaste, body wash, soap. Those are big ticket items."

The cabinet is restocked every morning and every afternoon. It's not monitored by library staff except to refill items that have run out.

"We don't want folks to have to feel policed," Clinton said. "We want it to be that you can come and nobody's watching and nobody's judging you."

So far, donations from the community have included water bottles and reusable bags. Clinton hopes that the cabinet continues to serve the community well into the future.

"It's just one more thing that'll help folks make it to the end of the month," she said. "Maybe you spent your money on food and now you need some body wash or some period products. This is a great help."