For millions of Americans, hunger is an everyday fact of life. Hunger destroys a man physically and mentally so that he is incapable of achieving a meaningful and productive place in society. Although many politicians and laymen state that the poor and hungry are shiftless and lazy, and that feeding them will destroy their self-reliance, a recent Health, Education and Welfare Department survey revealed that out of seven million on welfare in 1968, only 50 thousand were able-bodied, able-brained men. The rest were children, mothers, elderly people, and invalids. Seventy-five percent of the mentally retarded are found in areas of rural and urban poverty. A child born with brain damage in these circumstances is beyond the help of any such remedial programs as Head Start. Seventy percent of the poor do not receive food stamps. Two-thirds of the children eligible for free school lunches are still not getting that lunch. Administration of these programs varies widely. In one district, only fatherless children get free lunches. In another, only one child per family can eat free. As a result, some families send children to school on a rotation basis to be sure that each one gets a chance to eat. Public opinion has not yet been mobilized on behalf of the health problems of the poor. (Author/JM)