Does anyone recall “The Summer of George” from the classic TV sitcom Seinfeld? It was all about the beleaguered character of George Costanza trying to make the most of a summer of freedom, only for things to go horribly wrong! Well, in some respects, the summer of ’22 has been a bit like that. 

As we enter the month of August, we can look back on a period of strife and uncertainty. We had the turmoil of the January 6th hearings on the 2021 Capitol Riots. Another Covid variant. Oh, and Monkeypox. A July 4th packed with mass shootings. A controversial Supreme Court ruling on abortion rights. Rising prices and fears of a recession. Rising temperatures and fears of climate change. And the ongoing war in Ukraine reigniting tensions with Russia. Phew! News-wise, this summer has been a scorcher! 

But wait, it wasn’t all bad news! Amid the misery, there were many upbeat stories to lift the mood, some of which we highlighted here across USA Today and the USA Today Network. 

Big Table is in the business of rescuing people. And our good news story highlighted the work done by the nonprofit to help workers in the restaurant and hospitality industry who’ve fallen on hard times. Big Table provides financial, emotional, and practical support for workers with housing, mental, dental, and medical health issues.