Melaleuca Brightens Holidays for Hundreds of Families in Need

Fulfilling its mission of enhancing lives and helping others, Melaleuca spent this holiday season focused on giving to those in need. The Wellness Company and its employees donated to the Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, the Idaho Falls Catholic Community, the First Presbyterian Church, the Santa Lucia Children’s Home and the Boy Scouts of America to help brighten the holidays for hundreds of families.

The Salvation Army Angel Tree

Continuing an annual tradition, Melaleuca employees generously purchased hundreds of new toys for children in need through The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. For 17 years, Melaleuca has participated in the program by placing Christmas trees at its various facilities in Idaho.

Once again, each tree was decorated with ornaments indicating the age of a boy or girl from infants to teens. This year, Melaleuca employees donated cash, coats, snow pants, gloves, boots, toys, video games, art supplies, gift cards, and more. The Angel Tree program will ensure 1,350 children have a merry Christmas, and Melaleuca played a major role in bringing them joy.

Victor Mejia, Director of Melaleuca’s U.S. Hispanic Region, led a group of volunteers from his church to organize gift packages at the Salvation Army. When they arrived, Mejia saw the room filled with Melaleuca’s boxes and told Major Orpha Moody he was an employee.

“She told me that without Melaleuca’s help, they would not be able to give gifts to hundreds of children each year,” Mejia says. “Hearing that and seeing Melaleuca’s massive contribution in front of me, I felt a tremendous sense of pride to work for a company that truly cares for its community and does so much to help people in need.”

In addition to the Angel Tree, Melaleuca employees donated cash and nonperishable food items as part of the company’s annual food drive for the Salvation Army. In all, Melaleuca delivered 85 boxes full of food for families in need.

The Christmas Basket (Interfaith Group)

Through financial and in-kind donations, Melaleuca continued its support of the Christmas Basket donation drive, an interfaith philanthropic effort led by St. Vincent de Paul, the Idaho Falls Catholic Community, and the First Presbyterian Church. This annual program will brighten the holidays for over 300 low-income families, providing them with a week’s worth of food, as well as clothing, bicycles and wrapped presents for the children.

Melaleuca’s financial donation to St. Vincent de Paul went toward bikes, clothing, food, and building costs. This year, the Christmas Basket program will brighten the holidays for more than 900 children.

The Santa Lucia Children’s Home

A continent away, Melaleuca sent a holiday gift to the Santa Lucia Children’s Home, the signature cause of the Melaleuca Foundation. Throughout the year, Melaleuca Marketing Executives and corporate employees donate to this special orphanage in Quito, Ecuador, to ensure the children living there have everything they need. To help the children have a merry Christmas and happy New Year, Melaleuca made an additional financial contribution to pay for a party, toys, new clothes, school supplies and other items.

Feeding the Hungry

Melaleuca also wrapped up its 29^th year sponsoring the Scouting for Food drive, and as a result community food banks in 16 counties across Idaho and Wyoming have been stocked for this most crucial time of year. With Melaleuca’s help, the Boy Scouts have collected over 6 million pounds of food for families in need since the annual food drive began.