Bill Text: VA SR12 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending Rick and Cheryl Rowlands.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-01-25 - Bill text as passed Senate (SR12ER) [SR12 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-SR12-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Rick and Cheryl Rowlands, active volunteers with the Isle of Wight Christian Outreach Program, were named Citizens of the Year by the Smithfield Ruritan Club and the Smithfield Rotary Club on December 11, 2023; and
WHEREAS, in 2020, Rick and Cheryl Rowlands joined the Isle of Wight Christian Outreach Program (COP), an organization of local church members and businesses dedicated to collecting and distributing food, furniture, diapers, children's books, and other forms of emergency assistance to Isle of Wight County residents in need; and
WHEREAS, Rick and Cheryl Rowlands quickly became invaluable members of COP, with Rick Rowlands serving as executive director and Cheryl Rowlands co-leading the organization's food distribution and "Food For Thought" children's book distribution programs since 2021; and
WHEREAS, Rick and Cheryl Rowlands have worked tirelessly to address a nearly 50 percent increase in clients served by COP over the past three years, thoughtfully adapting the organization's operations at times to better meet the needs of the community; and
WHEREAS, Cheryl Rowlands has been instrumental to the success of COP's programs, overseeing a significant rise in the number of diapers and books distributed to families and the number of clients receiving assistance for rent or utility bills; and
WHEREAS, Rick Rowlands has been an invaluable mechanic and handyman for COP, guiding the installation and maintenance of new equipment to improve the organization's service capacity; and
WHEREAS, through their leadership and dedication, Rick and Cheryl Rowlands have improved the quality of life for countless residents of Isle of Wight County, earning the praise and esteem of all Virginians; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That Rick and Cheryl Rowlands hereby be commended for being named 2023 Citizens of the Year by the Smithfield Ruritan Club and the Smithfield Rotary Club; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Rick and Cheryl Rowlands as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's admiration for their contributions to the Commonwealth.
