On The + Side: Free Workouts, History Lessons and Star Wars Day

Welcome back to On The + Side, where we aim to add a little more sunshine to your day. Although life may have its uncertainties, we at Addition Financial are here to help you refocus and recharge.

Positive Focus

From donating essential supplies to connecting generations by video, people and businesses continue to find ways to inspire us in these challenging times. Here are some of the latest stories that made us smile.

• In times of social distancing, staying connected is more important than ever. MealsTogether is an initiative by The Youth Movement Against Alzheimer’s that pairs you with a FoodFriend from a different generation to share a meal by video. It’s a great way to make this time a little less isolating and foster companionship!
• To support farmers and families in need, Publix is purchasing excess dairy and produce directly from farmers and donating the food to Feeding America. This will reduce food waste and provide much-needed relief for those who need it, as demand from restaurants and hotels has significantly dwindled.
• VOSS Water has donated nearly 700,000 bottles of water to healthcare heroes, COVID-19 relief efforts and others who have been impacted. They have also created Clean Care Packages with VOSS water and hand sanitizer, and are randomly fulfilling three requests per day to donate to consumers in need.
• For some heartwarming animal news, Orlando firefighters recently rescued ducklings from a storm drain and reunited them with their mother. You can watch the video here.
• Did you know that this week is Teacher Appreciation Week? Addition Financial is celebrating local educators by donating care baskets to the school districts in Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties. The districts will each randomly select one winning teacher per day. Thank you to our teachers for all that you do!

Wellness Boosts

In the days of a global pandemic, we believe in the power of a healthy mind and body. This week’s Wellness Boosts offer helpful ways to enhance our immunity and maintain our good spirits in an uncertain time.

• UCF RESTORES is hosting a Mental Health Series on Facebook live to help our community cope with stress from COVID-19. This series will come out on Mondays and Thursdays through May 18, and it features 10-minute Q&A videos with UCF faculty and staff.
• Sleep is important for our immune system and our overall well-being. To help, Audible is now offering free bedtime stories and guided meditations, featuring Nick Jonas, Diddy, Gabrielle Bernstein and others. Best of all, they will donate meals daily to first responders and those in need.
• Looking to get your fitness on? RX Bar is hosting free workouts and guided meditations on their Instagram. Be sure to check out their RXercise stories!
• The team at American Heart Association has shared this helpful infographic of 10 ways to fight stress with healthy habits.
• Indoor house plants are not only great for bringing that pop of green into our homes, but they also boost our health and they clean the air around us! Check out this list of the easiest indoor plants to take care of.

For the most up-to-date guidelines on taking care of yourself during this global pandemic, visit the CDC’s website.

Additional Resources

We’ve been in quarantine for more weeks than we can count, but that doesn’t mean that the time at home has to be boring! Check out our latest resources to keep yourself entertained and educated while socially distancing.

• Happy Star Wars Day! In honor of May the Fourth, check out these fun Star Wars-themed arts and crafts that the whole family can enjoy. (May the Fourth be with you!)
• You can support your local bookstore while maintaining a safe social distance. By ordering books online at Bookshop.org, you can support participating bookstores in your area. It’s a great way to shop local!
• Sak Comedy Lab will keep you laughing with their nightly Facebook livestream shows. Tune in every night at 7 p.m. to see some of your favorite performers for free.
• Learn about our wildlife through SeaWorld’s Saving a Species series, featuring videos and curriculum on sea turtles, penguins, polar bears and other animal friends.
• Attention all history buffs! The Orange County Regional History Center is offering free History at Home activities, virtual exhibitions, videos and more.
• How can you navigate your investments in these challenging times? On the latest episode of our Making It Count podcast, our financial advisors talk about the fear and uncertainty of what has been happening in the stock market, and how to manage your investments accordingly. You can check out the Making It Count podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts.

We’ll be back next week with more positive stories and resources to make this time a little easier for everyone. To get notifications when we post a new issue, subscribe to On The + Side.

For the latest COVID-19 updates from Addition Financial, please visit our response page.