A Message from our Director

Thank you for visiting the 5th bridge website! I’m thrilled that you’ve not only heard about us, but have come to learn more. Volunteerism is already alive and well in the city of Northfield, but the vision of 5th bridge is to take it to the next level.

5th bridge will not only encourage volunteerism ... it will educate community members about volunteerism ... provide mediums where residents and organizations can communicate and empower one another on the topics of volunteerism and philanthropy ... and it will sponsor opportunities to elevate and extol volunteers and volunteerism. We like to think of these as our "5 E’s"!

As the Director of 5th bridge, my vision is to see every man, woman, and school-aged child in Northfield volunteering at least five (5) hours per month, doing some kind of service for others that the volunteer finds fulfilling. All Northfield residents should be able to experience the joy and other personal benefits that come from volunteer service. In fact, did you know that research has shown that people who are engaged in their communities and volunteer regularly, are happier, healthier, and actually live longer?

So, please join us by signing up with the Utter Joy Campaign today. In doing so, you will join fellow Northfielders who have already committed their gifts and talents to make a difference by giving at least five (5) hours of time per month in service to others.

We realize that many people in our community find it difficult to get out and volunteer. Each day, many of us (approximately half of all of Northfield’s adult residents) commute to work in other cities; others of us have small children at home to attend to; still others have difficulty getting around due to health issues, to name just a few. In other words, there are all sorts of barriers preventing us from engaging in the community in ways we’d like to. 5th bridge resolves to help remove those barriers. There’s no question that there are plenty of opportunities, big and small, for all of us to make a difference in our community. So keep in mind that everything counts! From large, organized group activities to one neighbor helping another…it’s all volunteerism. It all makes a difference.

As this website is developed, we will strive to encourage everyone to develop the habit of volunteering, help connect volunteers (by "word of web") with opportunities that will suit their interests and schedule, and celebrate volunteerism in our community by sharing the stories that will inspire us all. We look forward to hearing from you!

There is a special kind of magic that is created when a person freely gives the gift of their time and talents to help someone or something that they care about. We like to think of it as "Utter Joy." Thank you for helping us spread utter joy!

Candy Taylor
Executive Director