As humans, we sometimes make very irrational decisions. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have started hoarding various items including toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and many other household products. Hoarding of these items has caused many people to be left with no resources at all. Many stores across the world have been stripped clean of toilet paper with many only being left with single rolls.

According to CNN Health, one of the main reasons people are purchasing toilet paper is because other people are. Many people have stated that they don’t know why they bought toilet paper, but since they saw other people buying it, they also followed suit.

Another reason for buying toilet paper is because of over preparing. The novel coronavirus has panicked many people and caused people to over prepare excessively.

Hand sanitizer is another big culprit when it comes to hoarding. One example are two brothers who live in Hixson, Tennessee. The New York Times stated that these two brothers, Matt and Noah Colvin, set out across Tennessee and into Kentucky buying hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes from many stores. Matt Colvin then listed all of his items on Amazon from anywhere between $8 and $70. Amazon then took these items down and warned him that if he sold more overpriced items, his account would be suspended.

Some of the Benjamin students have experienced the hoarding first hand. “I would say my family has definitely hoarded a lot of toilet paper out of everything,” said eighth grader Robert Letsche.

Other Benjamin students have stocked up on food. “My family has mainly got ramen noodles because they are easy to make,” said seventh grader Jack Wahl-Cox.

Some Benjamin teachers were already prepared for the virus. “We bought some food before we became isolated, mostly because we have seven people in our house,” said History Department Chair Mrs. Anne Franzen. “We always have plenty of toilet paper on hand because we buy it when it is on sale.”

“I was not concerned about food since we always have our hurricane pantry ready,” said English Department Chair Ms. Kathleen Devine.

Many people are not sure why others are hoarding items, but teachers think it is due to the panic and confusion the virus has caused.

“Not knowing what to expect from a pandemic, I believe people began to panic,” said Devine. “Naturally, we all desperately wish to keep our families healthy, but doing so during a pandemic was unchartered waters for us.”