A Birthday Rooted in Service

The Rev. Lael Melville makes fighting hunger an integral part of her work and legacy.

Lael Melville can think of few better ways to celebrate her birthday than by giving back with the people she loves.

She gathered with family and friends at the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) one recent Saturday to pack and box food for neighbors facing hunger. It total, her group packed 37,661 meals.

“Organizing a volunteer shift at NTFB was a powerful way to bring people together for a cause that matters—pursing the goal that no family goes hungry,” says the Rev. Dr. Lael Melville, CEO of the Melville Family Foundation and an NTFB Board Member/Governance Committee Chair. “Seeing friends, family, and corporate partners unite in service was a beautiful reminder that small acts can create big impact.”

Formed in 2018 by Lael and her husband, Randy, the Melville Family Foundation focuses on food security, economic stability and education.  

“Hunger impacts everything—a child’s ability to learn, a parent’s ability to provide, a family’s ability to thrive,” Lael says. “That’s why we partner with NTFB. Feeding families today opens doors for a stronger tomorrow.”

As parents of Black sons in a racially divided world, Lael says she and her husband knew that getting their own boys through college and encouraging their success was not enough. They also wanted to make an impact on the greater Dallas community around them.

They partner with NTFB and The MINT Foundation to work toward food security. They also work with Uplift Education, which primarily serves economically disadvantaged students. The school system’s goal is college acceptance and nearly 80% of its graduates become first-generation college students. For adults, the foundation works with corporations to provide internships and scholarships.

Lael says she challenges corporations to think creatively and to give however they’re able, whether with resources, donations or volunteer hours.

“This isn’t charity; it’s an investment—in families, communities, and our shared future,” she says.

Lael, who earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology, says ultimately, their faith is what drives them to seek justice in the community.

To those they’re fortunate to work alongside of in the fight against hunger, Lael simply says she is grateful. “Your commitment changes lives—thank you.