Shaklee Ambassadors strive to bring true wellness to the world, both through their part-time work sharing our proven products and through the energy they put into giving back to their community. The beauty of a side gig is that flexible work frees your schedule to let you pursue passions. (And it’s all the better when that side gig itself ladders up to your purpose and calling.)
Read on to learn more about how Shaklee Ambassadors give back on Giving Tuesday and every day.
Andrea Smith, Shaklee Ambassador since 2014
Martha’s Table has been providing healthy food to Washingtonians for the past 41 years. My family and I, along with many of our Shaklee Ambassadors and Shaklee Members, have been making sandwiches for the homeless on a May weekend for several years now. Some years, we have donated as many as 2,100 sandwiches. This year, we donated 1,800 sandwiches to be given to the homeless as part of the McKenna’s Wagon program that rolls out 7 days a week, 365 days a year to feed hundreds of DC neighbors who may be experiencing housing instability or hunger at two downtown D.C. locations. We’re very grateful to have had such generous help from our Shaklee family who have come together to donate their time to this worthy cause year after year.
Karen Beckley, Shaklee Ambassador since 2015
Teule Kenya (which means “chosen” in Swahili) is a residential home and school for children ages 4-18 in Olitokitok, Kenya. Most of the children are not orphaned, but rather come from difficult life situations. Teule is able to offer them food, shelter, and schooling (which can be quite expensive). My husband, Casey, and I have a very special relationship with the organization. We lived in Kenya off and on for seven years, and while there, learned so much from the Kenyan people, including the importance of education…something many of us take for granted. We met brilliant young minds with gifts and talents to change the world, but who couldn’t afford to pay their school fees. We knew we wanted to help by supporting, encouraging, and investing in people. I was honored to be able to use my teaching experience to encourage and train the teaching staff at the school. Casey and I also partnered with Teule to jump-start entrepreneurial endeavors like farming, raising cows, opening a bakery, and drilling a borehole for water to allow people to earn income and become self-sustaining within their community. We have served on Teule’s Board of Directors and make an effort to maintain relationships with the staff and children. We also continue to fundraise for the organization, which most recently provided Teule with a biogas digester to power the property and covers the cost of tuition fees for the children. Throughout our partnership with Teule, we are the ones who have learned so much. I’m humbled and grateful for the lasting relationships we’ve formed with our Kenyan family. It will always be our home away from home.
Bob Ferguson, Shaklee Ambassador since 1970
I joined the board of the Sustainable Living Coalition in 2014, and I have served as Executive Director since 2016. The Sustainable Living Coalition is a policy and education organization that promotes sustainable living with an emphasis on local food systems. We operate the Eco Barn event center on twelve acres north of Fairfield, Iowa. One of the most exciting new programs has been our Fairfield Garden Initiative. We won an $85,000 Covid Relief Grant from HUD for a program that created or supported 106 home gardens in Fairfield in the 2022 season. We also distributed 3,500 high-quality plant starts, in addition to filming an acclaimed series of garden tutorials, establishing a tool lending library, and providing compost and other inputs, soil tests, and garden consultations.
Brenda Richards-Schivito, Shaklee Ambassador since 1984
In 2018 my family suffered a tragedy when we lost our son, Nicholas Schivito, due to unknowingly taking a substance laced with Fentanyl. Since then, I have dedicated my life to Nick’s memory by starting a 501(c)3 Foundation, Angels Against Addiction, to raise awareness, help those in recovery, and advocate for and support families who have lost a loved one to addiction. The pandemic slowed our in-person events, but I have still found ways to support group recovery homes in financial danger and continue to raise awareness.
Carlie Wilson, Shaklee Ambassador since 2017
I do a lot of volunteer work in our local church. I sing regularly in our Worship Team, cook for our annual community serve day, and do all the decorating for Christmas, which includes our Drive Through Bethlehem outreach event. I also take mission trips to serve on a Native American Reservation in South Dakota and a church in Mexico. There, we help with various building projects and upgrades to their facilities. We dig ditches (with hand tools), mix and pour concrete, set walls, install gutters, paint, prepare meals, and more. Recently, I spent a week preparing meals for an annual board meeting which led to the grand opening of a new Youth Center. I also participate in dual-language worship services and encourage those leading in the church. Without the flexibility of my Shaklee business, I could never accomplish what I do. I can’t imagine now ever going back to traditional work. Shaklee allows my servant’s heart to be more active than ever before, and I’m extremely grateful.
