New book purchase by FORK aims to spread awareness about children with food insecurities

As phase one of Project Lulu, Feed Our Rural Kids (FORK) has purchased and distributed more than 30 copies of the book “Lulu and the Hunger Monster” to Vilas and Oneida county libraries, both at 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. The book’s purpose is to raise awareness about childhood food insecurity, build empathy, and destigmatize the experience of hunger for young readers.

FORK Education Director Rick Miech explained that food insecurity in our area is primarily driven by systemic economic inequality, including issues like low wages and high living costs. Yet segments of society stigmatize food insecure individuals through long-held stereotypes that incorrectly assign personal responsibility for circumstance: citing personal issues like laziness, fraudulent behavior, dishonesty, entitlement, addictive behavior, etc.

“Lulu and the Hunger Monster” tells the story of food insecurity on a level children aged 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.

“Our goal with Project Lulu is to work toward the destigmatization of food insecurity as an issue here in the North Woods,’ Miech said. “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 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 even 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 deacon in the Catholic Church. “Life happens, and we all have experienced challenging circumstances on one level or another over the years. So, an individual being willing to ask for a helping hand should become our societal norm.”

Helping the local community to better understand the issue of and issues around food insecurity is one of five critical success factors upon which FORK judges its progress, Miech said. Presenting these books in an easy to access way will help spread awareness and understanding.

“So please go to your local library to meet Lulu. Through the eyes of a child we can all see the world more clearly,” Miech said.

Feed Our Rural Kids is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To learn more about FORK and all its programs, visit feedourruralkids.org.

If you are hungry, no matter the age, call FORK’s Family Food Helpline at 888-479-FORK (3675).