A  Melaleuca corporate plane packed full of generators and beef jerky products was on its way to hurricane ravaged Puerto Rico Monday evening.
Shelley-based Golden Valley Natural donated 2,000 pounds of jerky and Melaleuca purchased 17 generators, the maximum amount that could fit on the plane without it being overweight.
“The generosity of four companies really stood out to us. Golden Valley Jerky made a large donation. Rocknaks Hardware, Ron’s Tire and C-A-L Ranch donated large sums for generators out of their pockets,” Melaleuca CEO Frank VanderSloot said. “We’ve learned the most generous folks are the people who can least afford it, honestly. It’s the local people.”
Melaleuca pilots will fly to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Monday night. On Tuesday morning, they will fly into Puerto Rico to drop the generators and jerky off. Puerto Rico’s entire power grid was knocked offline during Hurricane Maria and it could be four to six months before electricity is completely restored on the island where 3.4 million people live.
In addition to the generators, Melaleuca is donating approximately $300,000 in cash and products for hurricane relief.
Last month, the Idaho Falls-based company held a 10 hour community food drive for Hurricane Harvey victims living in Houston and enough items were collected to fill two semi-truck trailers.
Golden Valley

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