Nicolet College, FORK say “Stick it to Hunger”

Stick It to Hunger!

Nicolet College has partnered with Feed Our Rural Kids (FORK) to take part in their Stick It to Hunger program by displaying food helpline stickers in bathrooms all across the college’s campus.

Stick It to Hunger is a collaboration between Feed Our Rural Kids and the Vilas and Oneida County Departments of Human Services to promote FORK’s Family Food Helpline — a toll-free, confidential source of information related to free and reduced-cost food support programming.

Spreading awareness of the helpline number (888-479- FORK) is a broad educational challenge, according to FORK President Perry Pokrandt, which has been an expensive and time-consuming endeavor for the all-volunteer organization.

“Our goal is to place Family Food Helpline stickers on every bathroom mirror across both Oneida and Vilas counties’ private businesses, schools, government buildings, churches and all other public buildings,” explained FORK Pokrandt.

“We are now excited to announce that these Family Food Helpline Stickers will be displayed in bathrooms across the Nicolet College Campus.”

Nicolet College President Kate Ferrel, a member of the FORK Board of Directors, shares these projects’ long-term objectives: “For about a dime a sticker, we can be ‘need-facing’ for up to five years,” she said. “It’s a big deal, as last year food insecurity affected 13.5% of U.S. households.”

According to Ferrel, the average food-insecure household struggles with food insecurity for 7 months during the year, making food insecurity an issue that can be unpredictable and hiding in plain sight at any given moment in time.

“That’s why Nicolet College will ‘Stick it to Hunger’!” Ferrel concluded.

“Cost-effective communication is essential, as the greatest challenge for the helpline will always be finding creative and cost-effective ways to keep 888-479-FORK (3675) ‘top-of-mind’ with area residents,” explained Oneida County Human Services Director Mary Rideout. “Our hope is that we can enlist the support of local partners across both counties, who will help us to place Family Food Helpline stickers on bathroom mirrors in area businesses, schools, churches, government and other public buildings.”

FORK is inviting local businesses in the area to be part of the Stick It to Hunger initiative. Any interested businesses located in Vilas or Oneida County can email info@FeedOurRuralKIds.org to arrange for stickers to be delivered.