12/07/2021
As some of you know, Senator Bob Dole passed away this past weekend at the age of 98 years old. As the internet does what it's sometimes prone to do in painting broad strokes for or against a person or an issue, I wanted to take a moment to honor Senator Dole.
Senator Dole was the former majority leader of the U.S. Senate, former Republican candidate for president of the United States...AND what some folks don't know is that Senator Bob Dole was a true champion - not just for civility but for getting important work done on behalf of those who experienced hunger and poverty in our nation and world.
Senator Dole served on the board of Bread for the World since 2001 - actively engaged until recently. We are indebted to him because of his leadership and legacy.
Indeed, Senator Dole was a champion of hunger and nutrition issues for most of his life. His support of anti-hunger programs has ensured tens of millions of children both in the United States and around the world receive the nutrition they need to learn and grow.
Senator Dole and his Democratic colleague, Senator George McGovern (D-SD), developed the modern food stamp program (now called SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), which enables more than 42 million people each year to put food on the table; the School Lunch Program, which on an average school day provides low-cost or free lunches to nearly 30 million children; and WIC, the Special Supplemental Food Program for Woman, Infants, and Children, which now provides more than 6 million pregnant women, new mothers, and young children annually with assistance buying healthy food and nutrition education.
Sens. Dole and McGovern also created the bipartisan McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. This program provides school meals in 42 countries and equips leaders in-country to “graduate” and begin administering the programs themselves. School meals improve students’ ability to concentrate and learn, strengthen household food security, and provide an incentive for families to keep their children. The senators shared the World Food Prize in 2008 for their leadership in improving child nutrition programs.
Our thoughts and prayers extend to Mrs. Elizabeth Dole and their family. Thank you, Senator Dole, for your public service, and leading with such decency, honor, and compassion. Thank you for your running the race set before you.
Read more from Bread's Press Release: https://www.bread.org/news/bread-mourns-passing-long-time-board-member-bob-dole
