Monday #28- NO FAST FOOD!

Make Today Matter...

Facts:

• $120+ billion is spent every year on fast food, compared to $6 billion in 1970.
• 30% of children's meals consist of fast food.
• 24% of high schools offer popular fast-food brands.
• 1 in 5 children between the ages of 6 and 17 are overweight.
• There is a 79% likelihood of adult obesity if a person is overweight during adolescence.
• Large portions, value meals, and supersizing create serving sizes that are double and triple the recommended daily allowance.
• Billions of dollars are spent each year on fast food advertising specifically targeted at children.

Take action today!

1. Don't eat fast food today.
2. Start the habit of switching one fast food meal per week to a healthier alternative.
3. On days you do eat fast food, ask for the small size.
4. Never supersize your meal. The price and value may be tempting, but your health pays the greatest price.
5. Plan your meals at least a few days in advance.
6. Go to the store and buy fresh or organic food.
7. Pack a healthy lunch or cook dinner at home today.

You matter!

With each fast-food feast, you significantly increase your carbohydrate and fat intake as well as the calories you eat. So plan your meals, simplify your schedule, cook, and eat dinner as a family. 

Fast food may serve you minutes in your day, but it's taking years off your life...most chains don't advertise THAT on their "value" menu.

(Adapted from Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza)

Monday #27- Potect Yourself From Identity Theft

Make Today Matter...

Facts:

• 8.4 million adults are victims of identity fraud annually.
• Over $50 billion is stolen from victims of identity theft every year.
• $5,720 is the average fraud amount per victim.
• 25 hours per victim is the average time required to resolve identity theft and its consequences.
• $6,270 is the average amount lost by people ages 25-34, the group that experiences the highest rate of identity fraud at 5.4%.
• 63% of identity information is obtained through traditional methods, such as lost or stolen wallets; misappropriation by family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors; and stolen mail or trash.

Take action today!

1. Use a paper shredder for important documents like credit applications, credit offers, insurance forms, physician statements, and expired charge cards.
2. Deposit outgoing mail in collection boxes located inside the post office.
3. Promptly remove mail from your home or business mailbox.
4. Don't carry your Social Security card with you.
5. Keep personal information in a safe and secure location at home.
6. Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you've initiated the contact or are sure you know with whom you are dealing.
7. Create passwords that are random combinations of numbers, symbols, and both upper- and lower-case letters.
8. Order a free copy of your credit report every 12 months.
9. Check your online bank statement on a regular basis.

You matter!

When someone steals your name, social security number, and credit, they steal you!

Victims of identity theft may lose job opportunities, be refused loans for housing, cars, and education, and even get arrested for crimes they didn't commit. Taking simple measures to protect yourself can save you time, money, credit damage, frustration, anger, and possibly humiliation. 

You protect your personal belongings, why not protect your identity?

(Adapted from Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza)

Monday #26- Support A Global Cause!

Make Today Matter...

Facts

• In the world:

- Every 3.5 seconds someone dies of hunger.
- Every 11 seconds someone dies of AIDS.
- Every 15 seconds someone dies from a waterborne illness.

• 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS.
• 1 billion have no access to clean water.
• 2.6 billion live without basic sanitation.
• 5 million live in refugee camps.
• 1.08 billion live on $1 or less per day.
• 2 million children die each year from diseases that inexpensive vaccines could have prevented.
• 11 million children die before they reach their 5th birthday. That's as if every child under five living in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany were to die in a single year.
• Enough food is produced to feed everyone.
• Every year more than 16 million people--the equivalent of one hundred 747 jets crashing every day of the year--die from:

- Hunger (9,125,000)
- HIV/AIDS (2,900,000)
- Pneumonia (2,000,000)
- Diarrhea (1,600,000)
- Malaria (1,000,000)

Take action today!

1. Pick a global organization that interests you. The needs are many and obvious.
2. Get involved today!

You matter!

The numbers are unbelievable, but they reflect a truth we cannot ignore. This is OUR world.

You, your friends, your family, your co-workers ALL matter when it comes to changing the statistics. Each one of you can make a huge difference. Every day we put off helping our world, we lose tens of thousands of people...many of whom died while you were reading this page.

Poverty is the common denominator.

(Adapted from Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza)

Monday #25- Plant a Tree!

Make Today Matter...

Facts:

• 1 acre of trees produces enough oxygen for 18 people every day.
• Planting trees remains one of the most cost-effective means of drawing excess CO2 from the atmosphere. 1 acre of trees can absorb the same amount of CO2 produced by a car driven 26,000 miles.
• 3 trees planted strategically around the house can reduce energy use by up to 50%.
• Trees add beauty, increase property values, and reduce stress.
• 1 tree planted by every family would reduce 1 billion pounds of CO2 annually from our atmosphere.

 Take action today!

1. Call your local nursery to get a list of trees that grow best in your area; then determine the type of tree you would like to plant.
2. Give a tree to someone as a gift.
3. To plant a tree:

- Identify the proper location.
- Dig a hole at least twice as big as the root ball of the tree.
- Place several inches of good soil mix at the bottom of the hole before inserting the tree.
- Place the tree in the hole. If your tree comes in a plastic pot, burlap, or wire basket, remove it from the container without disturbing the root system.
- Fill in the hole with good soil and pack firmly.
- Anchor your tree using a tree stake. Use wire and a length of old hose to secure tree to the stake--the hose will keep the wire from cutting through the trunk. Remove anchor after 2 years.
- Water thoroughly and fertilize as directed.

You matter!

Trees improve our air quality, save energy, reduce pollutants, provide homes for wildlife, and add brilliant colors to landscapes. Planting 100 million trees can reduce the amount of carbon by an estimated 18 million tons per year and, at the same time, save consumers $4 billion each year on utility bills. 

100 million trees--that's the goal. So get out your shovel!

(Adapted from Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza)