When Ryan Munson, owner of Munson and Brothers, saw that his friend Justin Klieber was trying to sell his toaster on Facebook Marketplace for $15 nearly five months ago, he didn’t think much of it.
But when the toaster remained unsold months later, and it kept popping up on Munson’s social media feed, he decided he had to do something about it. At least, that’s how the joke started.
“It just went on for like a month and then two months, and I was amazed at his fortitude to keep being adamant about wanting to sell this toaster for $15,” Munson joked.
The determination of Klieber to sell his toaster, and the determination of Munson to “give him a hard time” about it in the process, evolved into a GoFundMe for the Golden Triangle Homeless Coalition and a Toast Party on Thursday at Munson and Brothers with live music from 6 to 8 p.m.
Klieber told The Dispatch Wednesday that he listed his original toaster for sale online after his family purchased another nicer toaster back in December. Getting rid of it was just a matter of spring cleaning.
“We were just cleaning out our basement, my wife and I, just selling a lot of random stuff,” Klieber said. “The toaster was part of it.”
But when Munson saw the post come back up on his feed over and over again for months, he decided to make a joke out of it. Munson created a GoFundMe called “Help Me Buy Justin Klieber’s toaster” with a goal of $15 to purchase the toaster and donate it to the homeless coalition.
But that $15 mark was met and quickly exceeded. Munson said the public “got the joke,” and more donations kept pouring in.
Incrementally, Munson started setting new fundraising goals for the toaster’s GoFundMe, with incentives like a video of Munson making toast on the toaster, and then a toast party, and then a live performance by Taylor Hollingsworth playing at the toast party, which will include multiple kinds of breads, served fresh toasted by Klieber’s toaster and topped with an assortment of jams.
“It just kept growing, kept getting more money, kept making bigger and bigger promises, and people kept meeting them,” Klieber said. “It was great. I think it’s hilarious.”
By the time Munson talked to The Dispatch on Wednesday evening, the GoFundMe had raised $655, all of which will be donated to the homeless coalition. Munson and Brothers will also be donating a portion of the Thursday’s sales to the coalition to raise more money.
“The best part is, Justin donated $15 to buy his very own toaster,” Munson said. “Which makes me so happy, because he got the joke. And I told him, ‘I’m ready to give you this money,’ and he was like, ‘please take it. I love what you’re doing.’ He’s been the best sport.”
Munson said he hopes to hit a goal of $1,500 for the homeless coalition between Thursday’s toast party and the GoFundMe, which will be open for donations throughout the party. The GoFundMe can be found at gofundme.com/f/help-me-buy-justin-kliebers-toaster.
But whether he reaches that goal or not, Munson said, he is excited to be able to donate to a “good cause.”
“It’s kind of one of those things, where if we can get together and have a good time over something as silly as toast, then I kind of have faith in humanity,” Munson said.
GTRHC President Susan Garton said the toast fundraiser at Munson and Brothers is “absolutely hilarious and genuinely kind.”
“They are trying to make an impact no matter how big or small,” she told The Dispatch in a text message. “Their ingenuity is appreciated! It’s going to be a great evening… with toast!”
Crawfish boil
The toast party falls just a few days before the Northside Charity Boil, an annual neighborhood crawfish boil and catfish fry that will also benefit the Golden Triangle Regional Homeless Coalition.
Munson said he is happy to host a second event bringing attention to the “homeless problem” in the city, giving another opportunity for people to donate money to the nonprofit.
Colin Krieger, who has been organizing the charity boil in his neighborhood for the past nine years, said the event is going to be from 1-6 p.m. May 26 at 803 Fifth Avenue North. He expects the boil to draw about 300-400 people, he said.
“Going from the first one, which raised like $600, all the way up to now, we’re probably expecting the $4,000 range,” Krieger said. “It also helps with awareness for the homeless coalition.”
Garton said the crawfish fundraiser is “always a blast.”
“A ton of people come from all corners of Lowndes County to not only support the progress we are making but also to hear some great music and eat great food,” Garton said.
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 38 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
