Melaleuca Donates $600,000 of Products to Louisiana Flood Victims

IDAHO FALLS – When Melaleuca CEO Frank VanderSloot learned tens of thousands of homes were damaged in Louisiana floods, he decided to do something.

A semi-truck at the company’s Knoxville, Tennessee, facility was packed full of Melaleuca cleaning products Thursday and driven to the devastated areas in a matter of hours.

“We have 2,300 customers in the flooded areas, and our people needed it,” VanderSloot tells EastIdahoNews.com. “It’s not just for them, but for their families and neighbors.”

Six hundred thousand dollars worth of products arrived in Walker, Louisiana, early Friday morning.Melaleuca Natural Insect Repellent along with Sol-U-Mel and Sol-U-Guard, disinfectant cleaners that attack mold, were among items quickly snatched up by homeowners in need.

“The truck got there an hour ahead of schedule, and hundreds of people were lined up,” VanderSloot said. “The truck is getting ready to visit a second location to give out more Sol-U-Mel, Sol-U-Guard and other products.”

At least 13 people have died as a result of the flooding and at one point, 11,000 residents were in shelters.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said at least 40,000 homes have suffered some damage and thousands are expected to be uninhabitable.

“Our employees saw the need and jumped in to help,” VanderSloot said. “They got the products packed up, in the truck and out the door. Two of our drivers drove through the night to make sure we were there.”

VanderSloot said Melaleuca customers are “one big family,” and they often refer to each other at “Melatives.”

The wellness company’s mission statement is to enhance lives, and VanderSloot said this donation is one example of fulfilling that statement.