Battelle employees deliver food boxes to families in need

The area’s biggest employer is donating time, money, food and gifts to make Christmas a little brighter for many eastern Idaho families.

Battelle Energy Alliance donated over $6,000 in corporate funds to purchase food boxes for 60 local-area families, as well as toys for 210 children.

It’s all part of Battelle’s “Christmas for Families” program.

From Arco to Shelley, Battelle’s employees spent the day packing the boxes and hand-delivering them to each household in need.

But one family received an even greater gift from a secret Santa.

“It’s a family of four, the dad is disabled and the mom is walking back and forth to work and the grocery store,” said Penny How, program co-coordinator. “We got her a bike with a basket, but the car is going to be much better than the basket.”

Site contractors have sponsored the program for the past 24 years.