Melaleuca’s Donation and Personal Touch Supports Southeast After Floods, Tornadoes, Storms

In early April 2025, storms, heavy rain, and even tornadoes brought devastating floods and widespread destruction to states across the Southeast United States. Melaleuca got right to work and quickly donated products to victims, first responders, and others in Missouri, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

This charitable outreach included thousands of dollars in wellness products to Selmer, Tennessee, which was struck by an EF-3 tornado on April 3. Melaleuca partnered with Executive Director 8 Ronda Hendrix and Director 3 Darby Gunn, who brought the supplies to multiple locations and individuals across McNairy County.

Local Residents Share Their Perspectives

“Some [families] have completely lost their homes,” said local elementary school librarian Christie Roach. “We have 17 children [at the school] who have been affected directly from the tornado.” Rhonda gave Christie several boxes of products to distribute to the children at the school.

Rhonda delivered products to the Selmer Fire Department to thank them for their hard work in protecting the town’s residents. She talked personally with Bryce Whitten, one of the firefighters/EMTs. “We stayed out all night,” he said, referring to the night the tornado struck down near Selmer. “It’s been a long week, but we got to stick with it.”

Rhonda and her husband also visited the McNairy County 911 office to deliver yet another box of Melaleuca products.

“The first call came in a little after midnight,” said Dana Swims, the 911 dispatch office director, and also a Melaleuca customer. [The lines] were all going at the same time. A lot of times during the night, we had a phone on both ears.”

The office fielded over 300 calls within the first few hours after the tornado hit. Dana said that by the end of the day, the office had received over 800 calls.

“It was sheer chaos,” she recalled. “You try to get responders out, [but] they can’t get there, there’s so much debris. They can’t get to them. We had callers call back multiple times, thinking we aren’t coming, but we are. It’s a helpless feeling.”

Dana was grateful to receive Melaleuca products under the circumstances. “I love Melaleuca. Melaleuca cleaning products are what we use here at the center. We have a cabinet full of them!”

Director 3 Darby Gunn, a resident of Selmer, loves her community and the way everyone comes together when a tragedy hits. “I wanted to help in some way,” she said, “but providing my time to volunteer is difficult since I stay home with my two daughters. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to serve my community by distributing Melaleuca products to those impacted by the tornado. Thank you, Melaleuca, for always doing good and helping those in need!”

Serving Missouri

After tornados ravaged communities throughout Wayne County, Missouri, Melaleuca shipped a donation of personal hygiene products and healthy snack bars. Marketing Executive Shalyn Tucker brought these Melaleuca products to Palace of Praise, her local church in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, to help those who had been affected.

“I reached out to Melaleuca,” Shalyn said, “and within no time, the products were on their way. It meant so much to be able to turn around and give them directly to families who were hurting. That’s the heart of Melaleuca—always ready to help and focused on enhancing lives.”

When Disaster Strikes: Partnerships with Marketing Executives

The Melaleuca family stretches across the country, but its strength lies in the people at the heart of each community. When disaster strikes, it’s often our Marketing Executives — neighbors and friends — who act as the company’s hands. And Melaleuca and the Melaleuca Foundation are grateful for this extraordinary partnership!

They don’t just deliver supplies; they deliver hope and understanding because they live there too. They know the backroads, the shelters, the names of the families who lost everything. And when they show up with Melaleuca’s trusted wellness products, they’re not strangers from across the country — they’re part of the community, carrying with them a personal connection that can’t be replicated.

Widespread Destruction Throughout the Southeast

Multiple rivers overflowed their banks, and dozens of people have lost their lives due to flooding and other storm-related incidents. Though the damage was spread across the area, McNairy County, Tennessee, was one of the most-affected areas. On April 5, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency issued a Level 3 State of Emergency.

Cleanup and rescue efforts are ongoing. Melaleuca remains committed to walking beside those affected by disaster, not just with products but with real people. That’s what enhancing lives is all about.