CASE STUDY: PUBLIC RELATIONS

How an Always-On Media Strategy Mobilizes Fast Results

Real-Time Monitoring for Expert Positioning During a National Crisis

The Greater Boston Food Bank is the largest hunger relief organization in New England, delivering over 90 million healthy meals annually through its 600+ community partners in Eastern Mass.

Industry

Nonprofit

Castle Services

Public Relations | Media Relations | Thought Leadership | Expert Commentary | Newsjacking

THE SITUATION

Mobilizing our industry expert as a key media resource during historic government shutdown that halted SNAP payments

When the longest shutdown in government history set in during October and November 2025, SNAP benefits were significantly delayed, meaning that recipients who would use those benefits to buy food at retail were without this essential resource, driving more people into already overextended food pantries.

For The Greater Boston Food Bank, this meant a surge in demand among their 600+ community partners who distribute food through pantries and other local organizations.

We immediately mobilized to ensure that GBFB’s President & CEO Catherine D’Amato, drawing on her 30 years of managing this complex hunger relief organization, was in front of media, shining a light on the vast need and amplifying what local pantries and community agencies were experiencing in real time.

OUR APPROACH

A media strategy that turns real-time monitoring into impact with speed and accuracy

Our always-on media strategy met the moment – we continuously monitored relevant topics to identify opportunities, while also monitoring the reporters and outlets covering specific angles.

In addition to our regional media, we focused on a core list of national outlets’ coverage of the shutdown and the SNAP issue, reaching out to the right reporters with an offer of Catherine D’Amato as a resource.

This perspective helped illuminate the shutdown’s impact on GBFB’s network of pantry partners and the families they serve — directing people in need toward available resources, clarifying how others could contribute, and reinforcing the urgency of sustained funding to keep hunger‑relief efforts operating.

THE IMPACT

Shaping the narrative beyond Boston: Connecting regional and national outlets with expert community voices

An always-on media approach put our expert client at the forefront during a government shutdown, giving context and thought leadership to a national crisis. GBFB’s ongoing commentary during the 2025 shutdown included Time, Newsweek, The New York Times, Washington Post and other leading regional outlets.