Food Insecurity, “Strike Summer,” and Other Public Interest News Trends 

A look at the policy and public interest news from PR Newswire in July and August that you might have missed.

By Rocky Parker | Published Sept. 4, 2023

Policy and public interest news crossing the wire in July and August was must-read content – from critical updates on the wildfires in Hawaii to the fight against food insecurity and the latest union news during “strike summer.” And with all eyes on the job market, companies across the spectrum announced grants and programs to develop a strong workforce.

During the two-month period, PR Newswire distributed more than 3,200 press releases tied to policy and public interest categories.

In this recap, we’ll highlight the trends mentioned above, as well as some of the most-read releases of the period that you might have missed.

Most-Read Policy/Public Interest Releases

In July and August, these releases attracted large numbers of readers on prnewswire.com:

• In July, PayPal announced the second Venmo Small Business Grant, which provides $10,000 grants and mentorship for 20 Venmo business profile customers.
• In response to the devastating wildfires in Maui, Beanie Baby maker Ty Warner announced that proceeds from the sales of its limited-edition Aloha bear would go toward the disaster relief efforts.
• The Nonprofit Project Liberty Action Network launched a multimillion-dollar campaign to spotlight the impact of social media on children's mental health.
• Kodiak and Zac Efron partnered on the Keep it Wild campaign, which focuses on land conservation and bear preservation.

Policy and Public Interest News Trends

Throughout July and August, several trends kept popping up among policy news on the wire. Let’s take a closer look.

The Fight Against Food Insecurity

The USDA defines food insecurity as “a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food.” In 2021, 10.2% (13.5 million) of U.S. households were food insecure at some time. That number is staggering, but the percentage remains mostly unchanged from 2020 (10.5%). But food insecurity around the world is a different story.

The combined impacts of the pandemic, rising commodity prices, the Ukraine/Russia war, and climate change exacerbate the food insecurity crisis around the world. Of the 77 low- and middle-income countries it tracks, the USDA’s annual International Food Security Assessment found that the number of food-insecure people in 2022 is estimated at 1.3 billion, an increase of 118.7 million people, or 10%, from ERS’ 2021 estimate.

During the last two months, we saw a number of releases from companies working to battle the food crisis, in the U.S. and globally. Nearly 100 releases mentioned “food insecurity” during this period, including:

• In July, Sara Lee Bread celebrated deserving Atlanta families at the Table of Love event, where attendees shared their struggles and triumphs facing food insecurity.
• Nonprofit Feed My Starving Children celebrated the packing of its 4 billionth meal but acknowledged there’s still work to be done. “This is no time to get distracted — it is truly the greatest hunger crisis in our lifetime," said Mark Crea, FMSC Executive Director and CEO.
• In early August, Kellogg Company and Kroger announced they were teaming up to tackle hunger in the communities they serve by donating $35,000 to Greater Cincinnati's Freestore Foodbank.
• Nonprofit Dion’s Chicago Dream launched The Dream Vault, “a network-enabled bank of lockers designed to serve 200 households living within a one-mile radius with fresh fruits and vegetables, at no cost to them.”
• Campbell's^® Chunky^® teamed up with NFL defensive stars to encourage fans to help “sack food insecurity” this football season and donate more than two million meals to Feeding America.

Union News

While the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strike in Hollywood seems to be dominating union news, it isn’t the only one making headlines.

The so-called “strike summer” has seen strikes or potential strikes of Starbucks employees, hotel workers, UPS staffers, auto workers, and more. “There’s tremendous energy within the labor movement, and there’s tremendous energy on the strike lines,” Kent Wong, director of the UCLA Labor Center, told The Guardian.

Stagnating wage increases and ongoing frustrations leftover from the pandemic seem to be fueling many unions’ standoffs with employers. In July and August, PR Newswire distributed more than 240 press releases tied to labor and union issues.

Here are a few that caught our eye:

• In July, the Teamsters reached an agreement for UPS workers. The contract raises wages for all workers, creates more full-time jobs, and includes dozens of workplace protections and improvements. The Teamsters also responded to the August news of Yellow Corp.’s bankruptcy and closing.
• Delta Air Lines workers in Minneapolis rallied after Delta shareholders rejected a proposal whereby the company would agree to remain neutral during a union organizing drive.
• Union Pacific Railroad and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART-TD) reached a tentative agreement regarding paid sick leave.
• In a show of support for SAG-AFTRA and WGA, Norwegian illusionist Alexx Alexxander announced plans to make the iconic Hollywood sign disappear.
• In August, the United Steelworkers union released a statement in response to the news that U.S. Steel is exploring a possible sale.

Natural Disasters

This summer saw recurring record-breaking temperatures across the country. The brutal heat wave resulted in 44 straight days of 100+ degrees in El Paso, Texas, and 31 consecutive days of 110+ degrees in Phoenix.

“It’s been a year of abnormalities and streaks, so it’s just a testament to just how strange this year has been,” Ryan Worley, meteorologist for the National Weather Service office in Phoenix, told CNN. In addition to the oppressive heat, the country experienced severe flooding, wildfires in California and Nevada, and air quality warnings due to fires in Canada. Then, in August, wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, became the deadliest in more than a century, claiming more than 100 lives. At the end of the month, companies began sharing announcements related to Hurricane Idalia.

In response to the varying natural disasters this summer, companies worked to share their latest safety and damage prevention tips, recovery efforts, and data with their customers and reporters.

July and August saw nearly 140 natural disaster releases cross the wire, including these ones:

• The Salvation Army responded to the brutal heat wave by distributing essential supplies like water, cooling packs, and sun protection.
• The Duke Energy Foundation awarded $170,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations working on restoration efforts throughout the Midwest after storms struck the area in June and July.
• As wildfire season ramped up, Mercury Insurance launched a video series to help California residents protect their properties against wildfires. The company also shared preparation tips as Hurricane Hilary headed toward California in August.
• The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau shared regular, important updates for state residents and tourists in the wake of the devastating wildfires in Maui.
• The Home Depot Foundation committed up to $500,000 to support wildfire relief and long-term recovery efforts in Maui.
• CVS Health helped those impacted by Hurricane Idalia by stocking more emergency items in stores, allowing emergency refills of prescriptions, and more.

Workforce Development Programs and Grants

After facing intense difficulties hiring talent after the height of the pandemic, companies are now hoarding employees and June was the third straight monthly decline in layoffs. And in the cooling job market, employers are working to attract and retain talent.

Many companies are implementing programs to help employees grow in their roles. Whether it’s DEI initiatives, tuition reimbursement, or other training, organizations across industries are making moves to invest in their employees to keep them on board and develop a strong workforce for the future.

“It is not just about filling vacancies anymore; it is about creating a work environment that respects and values the employee, offering competitive benefits, and fostering a culture of flexibility and inclusivity,” said Phil Eckman, President of Workplace Solutions at Transamerica.

Here are a few examples:

• The Lowe's Foundation announced nearly $8 million in grants to community and technical colleges across the U.S. to support skilled trades workforce development initiatives.
• In July, the U.S. Department of Labor recognized United Youth of America, Inc. as a National Apprenticeship Program. The organization provides vocational training and career development opportunities for young individuals nationwide.
• Walmart awarded $1 million to Grads of Life, which “helps companies create equitable skills-first talent strategies that drive economic opportunity and mobility in America.”
• Fifteen companies formed a consortium aimed at growing and evolving Wisconsin’s place in the biohealth sector. "Establishing a Regional Tech Hub in Wisconsin will only further advance our state's standing as a leader in the biotech and personalized medicine industries, while supporting jobs, economic growth, and research that will better our state, nation, and world," said Governor Tony Evers.
• Healthcare staffing company ShiftMed announced a partnership with Dignity Health Global Education to provide its pool of healthcare professionals access to career advancement and upskilling training programs.

Looking Ahead

As political campaigns heat up, our team will be keeping an eye on policy-related press releases and the trends among them. And SCOTUS’ next term will begin on Oct. 2, so we’re bound to see news announcements tied to the upcoming cases hit the wire. And of course, we’ll keep an eye on the ongoing trends like severe weather, union news, and more.

About the Author

Rocky Parker is the Manager of Audience and Journalist Engagement at Cision PR Newswire. She's been with the company since 2010 and has worked with journalists and bloggers as well as PR and comms professionals. Outside of work, she can be found trying a new recipe, binging a new show, or cuddling with her pitbull, Hudson.