Melaleuca helps Iowans after ferocious windstorm disaster

Melaleuca is helping victims in Iowa after a ferocious derecho windstorm tore through the state last week, leaving a swath of destruction in its wake. The historic storm, which wielded hurricane-force winds, toppled century-old trees, flattened millions-of-acres of crops, and left thousands of homes in shambles as it plowed through the Hawkeye state and beyond.

“This is a disaster that we have never seen before,” said U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer. “It is something that was essentially like a hurricane coming through the Midwest.”

Melaleuca runs to the rescue

To help victims of the disaster, the Melaleuca Foundation delivered 4,000 Attain and Simply Fit bars to a food bank in Marion, Iowa, where 90 percent of homes sustained damage from the storm. With the assistance of Melaleuca National Director Makenzie Schultz, who was in Marion with boots on the ground as a volunteer, the Melaleuca Foundation connected with the Chamber of Commerce to arrange the food bank donation.

“There’s been a lot of food loss because of this storm,” said Marion Chamber of Commerce President Jill Ackerman. “Hundreds of refrigerators full of food have spoiled because of wide-spread power outages. Because of Melaleuca’s donation, our volunteers have been able to get food into the hands of more people during this critical time.”

A community picking up the pieces

“As the community is picking up the pieces after the storm, many families are wondering where their next meal will come from,” said Schultz. “I knew that connecting Melaleuca with the Chamber of Commerce, which runs the food bank, was a step in the right direction.”

And that step in the “right direction” resulted in the Melaleuca Foundation driving a semitrailer with Melaleuca products straight for Iowa to be distributed to families in need.

When the Melaleuca-branded truck arrived in Marion, several Melaleuca Marketing Executives lived the company’s mission of enhancing lives by quickly gathering to unload the boxes, which were then swiftly delivered to the food bank.

“In true Melaleuca fashion, Melaleuca was here to help when help was needed,” Schultz said. “And help is certainly something this community will gladly accept as it digs itself out from this devastating storm. It’ll take some time, but we’ll get there. And with the generous help of organizations like Melaleuca, we’ll get there sooner.”

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