Happy New Year Friends and Fellow Volunteers!

Reflecting on 2009, I can't help but feel pride and appreciation for the people in our great community. In spite of stressful and uncertain economic times, Northfielders stepped up and shared their time, talents and treasures in record amounts. For all that you do and have done to make the world and our community a better place, THANK YOU!

We are only a handful of days into the New Year and new decade, so it is certainly not too late to make a New Year's resolution. Here are some ideas:

• Start or join a Circle of Service. A Circle of Service is quite simply a group of people (co-workers, friends, neighbors, families, sports teams, etc.) who gather to volunteer together on a regular basis. You will find helpful information about starting a Circle of Service on our website. 5th Bridge helps support Circles of Service by coordinating two large-scale volunteer events each year that you can easily plug into – Goods for Good: The Great Northfield Rummage Raid for Charity (a city wide garage sale to encourage philanthropy) and the Northfield food packing event for Feed My Starving Children. Also, NEW this year, 5th Bridge has adopted several sections of highway thru the Adopt-A-Highway Program that will be for groups willing to do highway clean-up during the spring, summer or fall. Stay tuned for more information.
• Sign up to be a "friend" of 5th Bridge on Facebook and receive immediate notification of posted volunteer opportunities and other volunteer news.
• Encourage others to volunteer. Be a mentor and inspiration to someone who doesn't usually volunteer. One of the top three reasons people do not volunteer is because "no one asked them." Invite someone outside of your normal volunteer circles to participate in a project with you. Encourage them to take the volunteer pledge on our website and we will keep them involved so they too can experience the wonderful benefits of volunteering. Volunteering is always more fun with a friend!

As you are getting yourselves organized for the coming year, here are a few dates to note in your new 2010 calendar:

• February 15–21: National Random Acts of Kindness Week
• April 18–24: National Volunteer Week
• April 30–May 2: Goods for Good: The Great Northfield Rummage Raid for Charity
• November (date TBD): Northfield Food Packing Event for Feed My Starving Children
• December 11 (tentative): Jingle Bell Run to benefit a local charity.

Thank you for caring, serving and giving!

Sincerely,

Candy Taylor and your friends at 5th Bridge