WHEREAS, for the last six years, Ashburn resident Melanie Kelly has been the organizer of Share a Little Thanks, a program that has provided hundreds of Thanksgiving dinners to families in need in Loudoun County; and

WHEREAS, Melanie Kelly first developed Share a Little Thanks in 2012 while organizing a backpack drive at her local elementary school; after learning how many of the school's students came from families that would be without a meal on Thanksgiving, she rallied the support of friends and gathered enough food to donate around 50 dinners; and

WHEREAS, since 2012, Melanie Kelly and her volunteers have expanded the Share a Little Thanks program; supporters donated nearly 150 meals in 2016, and in 2017 they gave 220 meals that fed 1,154 people; each meal donated to Share a Little Thanks is a complete Thanksgiving dinner that includes a turkey, vegetables, and dessert treats; the dinners are boxed up and sent to local schools, where those in need can pick them up anonymously; and

WHEREAS, to help grow Share a Little Thanks, Melanie Kelly has drawn on the support of her local community; partners now include the staff of a Harris Teeter grocery store, local students and sports teams, and members of the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, who collect food donations for the dinners; and

WHEREAS, Melanie Kelly's work with Share a Little Thanks has brightened the holiday season for hundreds of families in Loudoun County, and stands as a superb example of community service and good citizenship; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Melanie Kelly for aiding the residents of Loudoun County as the creator of the Share a Little Thanks program; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Melanie Kelly as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for her remarkable accomplishments and best wishes for continued success.