Governor Booth Gardner established the Governor's Task Force on Hunger in 1986 and asked its members to study the problem of hunger in Washington State over a 2-year period. The task force conducted its work through three main committees: one to survey the nature and extent of hunger in the state, one to uncover major causes of hunger, and one to examine food assistance programs. Summaries of the findings of the committees are included in the six chapters of this report. In general, the report documents the existence of a serious hunger problem in the state, outlines causes of hunger, and describes current food assistance programs and the barriers that prevent them from more effectively addressing the problem. The report offers a set of 38 recommendations that provide the basis for legislative action at the State and Federal level, for administrative changes designed to improve access to help by the hungry, and for improving the effectiveness of private sector efforts. Included is a chart showing which recommendations should be implemented first. (RH)