FORK rolls out Project Lulu

As phase one of Project Lulu, Feed Our Rural Kids (FORK) has announced that it has purchased and distributed over 30 copies of the book “Lulu and the Hunger Monster” to Vilas and Oneida County libraries, to both public and elementary school library locations.
Written by author Erik Talkin, “Lulu and the Hunger Monster” won the 2021 International Literary Association Social Justice Award. According to a FORK press release, the book’s purpose is to raise awareness about childhood food insecurity, build empathy, and destigmatize the experience of hunger for young readers.
“Food insecurity in our area is primarily driven by systemic economic inequality, including issues like low wages and high living costs,” the release states. “Yet segments of society stigmatize food insecure individuals through long held stereotypes that incorrectly assign an unreasonable level of personal responsibility for such circumstance: citing personal issues like laziness, fraudulent behavior, dishonesty, entitlement, addictive behavior, etc.”
“Our goal with Project Lulu is to work toward the destigmatization of food insecurity as an issue here in the Northwoods,’ explained FORK Education Director Rick Miech. “You see, we know that societal stigma/judgement leaves those in need with unnecessary feelings of shame and guilt, preventing and discouraging them from accepting the transitional food help they need.”
Today, an estimated 50% of all children between birth and age 18 will receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for a period of time during their childhood. With the numbers for children who experience food insecurity to a different degree being very much higher.

“So how is it that so many of us stand in judgement of circumstances experienced by a solid majority of us,” asked Miech, who also serves as a permenant Deacon in the Catholic Church. “Life happens, all of us have experienced challenging circumstances on one level or another over the years. So, an individual being willing to ask for a helping hand should be seen as a personal strength, not a weakness.”
The book tells the story of food insecurity on a level children age 5 to 9 can understand. Because even if a child is too young to understand why they are hungry, they do understand what hunger feels like.
“Helping our community to better understand the issue of and issues around food insecurity is one of 5 critical success factors upon which FORK judges our progress,” concluded Miech. “So please go to your local library to meet our friend Lulu. I’m confident that hrough the eyes of a child we will all see the world more clearly.”
Feed Our Rural Kids is a registered 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization. To learn more about FORK and its programs, visit FeedOurRuralKids.org.
If you are hungry, call FORK’s Family Food Helpline at 1 (888)-479-FORK (3675). The helpline serves the needs of all residents across Vilas and Oneida counties, not just children.