Dear 5th Bridge Pledgers,

We sure hope you are enjoying these last hazy, lazy, crazy days of summer. Before we know it, school will be starting. In the meantime, we hope that you discover some volunteer experiences that utilize your talents, teach you something new, help you make friends or help you grow as a person. Please know that as you enhance your own life through volunteerism and philanthropy, you are also enhancing the lives of everyone around you. Thank you!

If you’re looking for some fun and rewarding ways to get involved, check out these ideas:

• Attend Northfield’s “National Night Out” event this evening (Tuesday, August 5, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.). The event will be held in downtown Northfield (the exact location will be dependent on construction progress) and is organized by the Northfield Police Department and co-sponsored by Target Corporation. Learn about safety, crime prevention and community involvement at this fun family event. Also, stop by and say "hi" – 5th Bridge will host a table at the event encouraging attendees to take the pledge!
• Form a Circle of Service. A Circle of Service is a group of like-minded people who get together periodically to do service projects. The great thing about a Circle of Service is that it is totally flexible and can be organized in whatever manner the participants want it to be. Visit www.5thbridge.org and look under “stories” to read more. 5th Bridge can help by providing you with ideas for group service projects and by sharing your stories to inspire others. 5th Bridge also hosts two large-scale service projects each year in which your Circle can participate. Our Feed My Starving Children food packing event in the fall, and Goods for Good – The Great Northfield Rummage Raid for Charity event in the spring, are great opportunities to get involved. If you have further questions or if you are interested in forming or joining a Circle of Service, contact Candy Taylor at 507-581-3017.
• Stand up and say, “iVolunteer” by walking with 5th Bridge in the Defeat of Jesse James Days Grand Parade on Sunday, September 7. All 5th Bridge walkers will receive a cool “iVolunteer, do you?” t-shirt. Please contact Candy Taylor at candy@5thbridge.org or call 507-581-3017 for more information. Children are welcome and must be accompanied by a parent.
• Raise money and walk in the Northfield CROP Hunger Walk ’08 on September 28, beginning at 2:30 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church. CROP Hunger Walks raise funds to alleviate hunger and poverty and promote justice and peace. Projects are implemented through Church World Service. Twenty-five percent of the money raised is used locally and 75% works to alleviate poverty nationally and globally.
• Mark your calendar, 5th Bridge is hosting the second annual Feed My Starving Children Mobile Packing Unit, right here in Northfield October 2–4, 2008. Our theme for this year’s event is Share the Bounty and our goal is to pack 225,000 meals and raise $38,000 to cover the cost of the ingredients. Each volunteer will be asked to contribute to the extent he or she is able. If you’re short on cash for a donation, check out our website for fun and easy ways to raise money for the Feed My Starving Children event. Also, 5th Bridge is currently mobilizing a steering committee to coordinate the Feed My Starving Children event. If you’d like to be a part of this fun and rewarding committee, with a short term commitment, please e-mail candy@5thbridge.org.

Keep in mind that each time you volunteer and give of yourself, you change a life… yours!

Sincerely,

Candy Taylor and your friends at 5th Bridge