A local non-profit is bringing joy and relief to families in need with the gracious act of giving gifts.
What began as a kind act of helping a neighbor in need is now known as the Alegre Foundation. The Alegre Foundation is a local non-profit based out of Rigby with the mission to bring joy to families in need.
Since 2021, the foundation has expanded in families they’ve helped and communities they cover. “We are really focused on local families in Jefferson, Bonneville and Madison County,” Maresa Nunez, a member of the Board of Directors at The Alegre Foundation said.
“There’s one family I’ll never forget,” Maresa said. “This woman lost her husband unexpectedly, leaving her a single mom of a young family. It was a heart-wrenching story of how he passed away, and when we went to deliver the Christmas gifts, you could tell that she had just been cooped up in her house for weeks. She started bawling and saying, ‘Thank you, thank you so much.’”
This story is one of many families who’ve felt the joy from the non-profit, and whether these families are experiencing financial troubles or losing a loved one, their identities remain anonymous.
The foundation accepts submissions from October through early December, and looking ahead, the foundation anticipates growth as much as doubling its amount of recipients.
During the holiday off-season, the foundation stays just as busy. In past years, they’ve rounded up supplies for The Giving Cupboard, a food pantry based in Jefferson County that provides food to families in need and supplies for every teacher in Jefferson County.
“We’ve met some really amazing families with amazing and sometimes heart-wrenching stories of things that they've gone through, and we've given back to them, and they've all been so appreciative.”
For more details, head to www.jjenterpriseholdings.com/our-holdings/the-alegre-foundation/.