IDAHO FALLS — A nonprofit received a “great surprise” after a local business and its employees donated money to pay off its mortgage.
The Community Food Basket-Idaho Falls will be able to close its fundraising campaign and pay off the mortgage on its 22,000 square foot storage warehouse. In a press release, he said, “Thanks to the generosity of Melaleuca, the final $51,500 needed to end the fundraising campaign for the purchase of the warehouse has been donated.”
The statement read, “During the company’s holiday food drive, Melaleuca employees donated $34,228, which was matched by the Melaleuca Foundation, for a total of $68,456 to benefit hungry people. Inspired by Melaleuca’s mission to improve lives, employees from one department challenged those from other departments in fun competitions to see who could raise the most money. In addition to this $51,500 contribution to CFBIF, Melaleuca purchased turkeys and groceries for the Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving dinner to benefit the elderly, homeless, people with disabilities and the less fortunate in the community.
The nonprofit is now the proud owner of its own food storage warehouse at 1895 N. Boulevard in Idaho Falls. The warehouse, which stores dry and refrigerated food items, helps 22 other nonprofits by serving as a central location for food storage in southeast Idaho.
“We couldn’t be happier,” said Ariel Jackson, executive director of Community Food Basket-Idaho Falls. “After 42 years, our food donations now have a permanent home in Idaho Falls, and the legacy that so many hard-working people and businesses have built is secure.”
Other major donors include the Four Amigas (four unnamed women), the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, the Albertsons Foundation, the Community Foundation of Idaho and the CHC Foundation.
Melaleuca’s donation represents the warehouse capital campaign’s largest corporate donation.
“Melaleuca team members are known for their generosity, compassion and commitment to improving lives,” said Melaleuca CEO Frank VanderSloot. “They came together to help the hungry, especially during the holidays, and they raised enough to transform the future of The Community Food Basket-Idaho Falls and those who benefit from it.”
The Community Food Basket-Idaho Falls works to meet the emergency food needs of families and individuals facing food insecurity in the greater Idaho Falls area. According to a press release, the organization feeds up to 2,000 local families per month.
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