COLUMBIA — As COVID-19 continues to spread, supermarkets around the nation are experience shortages of household essentials such as toilet paper and hand sanitizer, leaving many unable to get those essential items.

Starting Saturday, the Tiger Hotel in Columbia is going to try to change that.

“Of course, looking at social media and seeing the posts saying ‘ah, these are the shelves at Walmart’ or ‘these are the shelves at Schnucks’ or ‘these are the shelves at Hy-Vee,’ we just thought if we could do something about that and just help out, help the rest of our community out," Tiger Hotel CEO Glyn Laverick said. "This would be a great way to do it.”

Hotel management is organizing a pop-up store to sell surplus supplies at an affordable rate for people who need them in the community.

The idea for the store started when hotel management was searching for ways to give staff extra hours during a time when fewer people are staying at the hotel while also finding a way to benefit the community.

Because the hotel gets its cleaning supplies, bathroom essentials and other items from a supply chain management system instead of supermarkets, Laverick said it was relatively easy to stock up on supplies.

“Of course, because hotels are a little less occupied right now and restaurants are little less occupied, they had some extra capacity that we were able to utilize," he said "So, we ordered in bulk and we’ll be setting up tomorrow.”

Beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday, anyone will be able to go to the hotel's ballroom and purchase those items. Laverick said they have around 10,000 rolls of toilet paper, as well as facial tissue, cleaning supplies, gloves, baby wipes and a limited amount of canned goods. The store will be open from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, and then from noon to 6 p.m. every day following until the hotel runs out of supply or "until people stop showing up."

Laverick said he hopes the store can help provide a easy, efficient way for the community to get essential supplies as the coronavirus continues to spread.

“That’s what community is all about, being a part of something that’s greater than you," Laverick said. "I think this is just a great way that we can share in that, and our staff is really excited to do something that helps others, even in a small way.”