I would have solidly placed a bet that the first fast food chains in the U.S. began in the 1950’s. Little did I realize that the first one actually opened in 1921. It was a White Castle! From there, these suburban quick stops mushroomed into urban areas in the 1960’s….and from there, the trend only got hotter.

Fast food packaging evolved over the years to (unfortunately) include human-made “forever chemicals.” These are more technically known as Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances. Just recently, the U.S. government announced plans to address PFAS pollution in our tap water. But, what about other materials including food packaging?

Currently, seven states have passed bans on PFAS pollution. Fast food chains including McDonald’s, Chipotle, and Panera have also implemented bans. What about creating a national ban.....after all, our health is worth it.

👉 Take 30 (free) seconds and add your name in support.
https://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/665/171/026/

📸: Live Science

Light It Up Blue on Tuesday, April 2 for Autism Awareness Day. Wear blue on the day to stand with the autistic community

OR

Don't feel like wearing blue? That's ok. It's always powerful to learn an updated fact about autism.

1️⃣ 1 in 36 children in the U.S. have autism. (This is an increase from a rate of 1 in 44.)

2️⃣ Boys are nearly 4 times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls.

3️⃣ It is estimated that 50% of children in the U.S. are being screened for autism. If you're unsure if your child has been screened, you can ask for a screening with a doctor. If visiting a doctor is challenging for you, complete the (free) online autism screener: https://www.autismspeaks.org/autism-screening

Source: CDC, November 2023
📸: VCG

103,223 men, women, and children are currently on the national transplant waiting list. Every 8 minutes a person is added.

Becoming an organ donor saves lives. In 2023, there were 46,632 organ transplants performed from both living and deceased donors. (It was a record setter!)

Finding organ donor matches is challenging because blood and tissue types need to match. This is why a diverse donor pool is so important.

Think about it. Even if you're not ready to make the decision, stay tuned to ThatHelps Helping News during the month of April to learn more impactful statistics. Or, if you're ready to get involved,signing up online is easy.

👉 If you're interested in learning about donating an organ while you are living: https://www.organdonor.gov/learn/process/living-donation

👉 For more information on donating an organ as a deceased person: https://www.organdonor.gov/sign-up

Source: Health Resources & Services Administration
📸: Stocksy