Evening star., 1937-09-23
DRIVE FOR S100,0()O
FOR HOT LUNCHES
IN SCHOOLS BEGUN
so Representatives of D. c.
Groups Back Aid for.
5000 Children Daily.
BENEFITS MAY INCLUDE
BOXING CARD AND OPERA
Appointment of Committees Is
Undertaken-W. P. A. Aid
Toward Labor Pledged.

Immediate response to radio and
press appeals for funds to provide
free hot lunches to needy Washing
ton school children was manifest in
a meeting today at the Willard Hotel
under the direction of Mrs. John
Boyle, jr., chairman of the first lunch
program in 1888.
Following announcement by local
Works Progress Administration lead
ers that about 100000 is necessary
and that funds are being raised in
other States by benefits staged by
various organizations, more than SO
men and women representing most of
the prominent business, social and
religious organizations in the Capital
threw their weight behind the project
to feed more than 5000 children a
lunch every school day.
The group was told Joe Turner,
local boxing promoter. had just an
nounced his willingness to sponsor q
benefit boxing card in Griffith Sta
dium October II, and representa-
tive of the Washington Popular Opera
Association announced willingness to
allow boxes at the performance of
"Rigoletto' October l2 at Constitu-
ton Hall to be sold for benefit of the
fund.
Committee Choices Pushed.
Meanwhile systematic appointment
of committees was undertaken to con-
fer with various organizations to get
money for the necessary non-labor
costs in the project which the w. P.
A. will not be able to provide.
Peter Hamilton, social worker con-
nected with Opportunity House, Of
fered to ask girls in private schools
here to assume responsibility for per-
haps one child.
1T would only mean the giving up
of a few sodas and am sure they will
do it," Hamilton said as the group
epplauded his suggestion.
The meeting was opened by Mrs.
Boyle, who gave a brief history of the
project, explaining that while the orig
inal w. P. A. project was worded to
include the food cost. w. P. A. cur
tailment made outlay available only
for labor and not for materials.
Mrs. Mary Steele, local w. P. A. Off
cial, said the District Government
stood ready to provide the labor costs
as soon as the food and other costs
could be raised.
Miss Marie Driscoll, W. P. A. home
economics consultant, explained the
operation of similar projects in other
States and DR.. j. A. Murphy of the
District Health Service said his de-
partment was solidly in back of efforts
to provide the food service.
23 Per Cent Need Help.
more than % per cent of the
children in kindergarten and first
grades are suffering from MANU-
triton, we have discovered" said DR..
Murphy.
Tomorrow a committee will call on
Commissioner Hazen to get his sup
port and 10 ask permission for police
and flremen to be allowed to sell
tickets.
Mrs. Steele announced that similar
fund canvass is being undertaken by
colored organizations.
All reports should be turned in to
w. P. A. headquarters at 460 C street,
Mrs. Boyle said, and funds also will
be received there.
Committee appointments to act as
liaison officers with various organi-
cations included Thomas E. Lodge,
president of the Federation of Citi-
zens' Associations: Mrs. Lloyd Biddle,
chairman of the Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs; John Saul, mems clubs:
Sylvan King, Fairfax Oyster and
Frank R. Jelleff, business men and
merchants; Radio Joe" kaufman,
radio; Mrs. Ernest w. Brown, Prot
estant churches; William Cogger,
Catholic churches; Arthur Clarendon
Smith, truck owners; Mrs. John Safea,
Jewish groups.
Others present were asked to sign
up with any committee with which
they wanted to work.