[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 24 (Friday, February 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S1864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING KAREN RAE FORD

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, it is with a heavy heart that I 
note the passing of a long-time friend and native Iowan, Karen Rae 
Ford. Karen passed away last week after a difficult battle with liver 
disease. I knew Karen well through her work as the executive director 
of the Food Bank of Iowa, a position she held for over a quarter of a 
century. Karen was a founding force for the creation of the food bank, 
where she dedicated herself to improving the lives of countless 
thousands of low-income families in Iowa.
  Let me start by expressing my deepest sympathies to Karen's family 
and friends. It is never easy to lose a loved one, and particularly 
hard when the loss is due to a medical illness that cuts that loved 
one's life short. In times of mourning, words fall far short of the 
comfort we wish we could provide, but hopefully words let those who 
were close to Karen know that our thoughts and prayers are with them.
  Karen has played a leading role in the fight against hunger in Iowa 
for many years. In the last several years the Food Bank of Iowa 
distributed nearly 5 million pounds of food a year to almost 300 
partner agencies. Just think of all the hungry, low-income families 
that have benefited directly from Karen's work during her nearly 30 
years of work at the Food Bank of Iowa the parents that were able to 
put food on the table for their children so that they did not have to 
go hungry.
  Though I am sure Karen would never say so, these families owe her an 
incalculable debt of gratitude for the hard work and devotion she has 
shown to the cause of improving their lives over her professional 
career. And her impact extended far beyond the State of Iowa. On more 
than one occasion Karen testified before the Congress to advocate for 
improvements to our food assistance laws and policies so that the 
programs upon which low-income families depend for a safety net in 
tough times are as effective as possible. That testimony was always 
received with the recognition and respect that it came from an advocate 
who was in the trenches every day fighting to provide food to hungry 
people.
  Though the Food Bank of Iowa will continue to operate, and the 
families that depend upon it will continue to be well served, we have 
all suffered a loss with Karen's passing. Her activism and leadership 
over a lifetime of work in the anti-hunger community is a testament to 
her tremendous spirit and dedication to helping those less 
fortunate.

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