Groton — Last April, people had to go out of their way to find toilet paper. This April, toilet paper is abundant, and some also might find a superfluous toilet just by stepping outside their home.

The maroon, pink and blue toilets that perhaps you've seen on Groton lawns — filled with fake flowers and lights — are not the result of a lavatorial prank war between neighbors.

They're for a high school fundraiser.

The Fitch High School Grad Party Committee has swirled up some polarized reactions with their "grad potty." The order form begins, "Let's face it, it has been a really crappy year. It stinks that our senior class of 2021 has had to piddle through the mess of the pandemic since LAST spring! Don't they deserve to have a memorable and fun graduation?"

Committee President Molly Ziegler said, "We're giggling like 10-year-olds."

Here's how it works: Someone pays $10 to have the decorative toilet placed in a yard, and the recipient can pay $10 to have it removed, $20 to have it removed and put in another yard or $30 for removal, placement in another yard and to be added to the "clogged list" so they don't find themselves with a toilet again. Another $5 will reveal the name of the perpetrator.

The mastermind is Katie Van Dyke Heard, a member of the Grad Party Committee who has been bestowed the title of Potty Chair. She saw the idea and liked the novelty, as opposed to the more commonplace fundraiser involving plastic flamingos. Heard said she got the idea approved by the principal.

She found three free toilets on Craigslist and paid for signs that say, "YOU'VE BEEN FLUSHED!" and provide a phone number to have the sign removed.

Committee members are only delivering to Groton residences for now but are looking to expand to nearby towns, though they don't want to cause trouble.

As evidenced by 272 comments on a post in the Groton CT Community Forum on Facebook, reactions have been split. Some find it hilarious.

Others think it is in poor taste, are concerned about bullying, and don't like the idea of forced fundraising, noting that many are struggling financially in the pandemic. Ziegler hopped into the comments to address questions, hoping to put a lid on criticisms.

"If someone wants it removed and doesn't appreciate the humor in this, we will absolutely remove it with no questions asked," Heard said. She said if someone is really irritated, it can be removed within an hour. Ziegler added, "We don't want to make anybody angry. We don't want them to get pissed off. Ha!"

People also can email fshsgradparty@gmail.com, the same address that can be used to get a toilet placed, to preemptively be put on an opt-out list — but still donate if they choose. Donations can be made with cash or check upon pickup, on PayPal with this email or on Venmo at FitchGradParty-TwentyTwentyOne.

The committee is on a roll, placing the toilets on 29 yards and raising $995, with more checks coming in soon, Ziegler said Monday.

Flush with cash, how will committee members spend the money?

They're trying to plan a grad party for graduation night, to provide an environment that is drug- and alcohol-free while also maintaining COVID-19 safety through mask-wearing and social distancing. A party location hasn't been established yet.

The Pfizer vaccine is available to people over 16, and Ziegler hopes most seniors will be vaccinated by graduation.

Following a toilet delivery chain

"It cracked me up," Bethany Traverso said of first hearing about the idea. "I thought, that's very different and original. You know, you do get sick of the flamingo flocking."

Traverso, whose youngest child graduated last year, was the recipient of a pink toilet she didn't even hear being delivered. She then had her dog pose for a picture with the toilet while wearing a rainbow unicorn headband.

"I didn't even ask who toileted me. I was more concerned with who I could toilet next," she said. That turned out to be Rachael Franco, whom she has known for years. Traverso also liked the idea of putting a toilet on a town councilor's lawn.

Franco said her husband was working from home and her 12th grade son was doing remote learning, so they saw the toilet first, and her husband sent her a picture while she was at work.

"I thought it was hysterical, because I had already seen it posted on the Forum," she said. Franco donated $100 and opted to put it on the lawn of Mark Scherer.

"We thought that would be a great spot, because it's right on Allyn Street and there's lots of traffic," she said. Indeed, Scherer said there were lots of strange looks from drivers all weekend, before the toilet was picked up Monday morning. He opted not to pick a target.

High school seniors Trae Johnson and Kylie Heard — Katie's daughter — had placed the maroon toilet on the Scherers' lawn Friday afternoon. With Johnson, the Grad Party Committee members were happy to have a football player to lift the heavy toilet. Heard said she's seen a few classmates laughing about the fundraiser on Snapchat.

Mark Scherer came home as they were still on his lawn.

"Usually, I have my garbage can there, so this is a little different," he said. "I think it's a good fundraiser for Fitch, so we're happy to help out."

e.moser@theday.com