Dear 5th Bridge Pledgers,

Are you sick of winter? Happy spring! Yes, it really is coming!

After a really long winter, wouldn't it feel great to gather your friends and loved ones, and participate in an activity that will make a difference? Get involved and find a way to share your individual gifts and talents. Volunteer today.

National Volunteer Week is April 19–April 25. Watch for a special section in the Northfield News about volunteerism and check out the 5th Bridge website for ways that you can volunteer.

Earth Day is April 22. Spend the day cleaning your yard, a local park or the riverfront. Sit down with your friends and family and brainstorm ways that you can live a "greener" life, then make a plan and put it into action.

RECYCLE USED BOOKS by donating them to the Northfield Hospital Auxiliary's Great Northfield Book Raid. Books can be dropped off at the Ice Arena beginning April 6. Check out the hospital's website, www.northfieldhospital.org, for details. Sale begins on April 28.

TURN UNWANTED ITEMS INTO CASH FOR YOUR FAVORITE CAUSE OR CHARITY by getting involved in 5th Bridge's 2nd Annual Goods for Good – The Great Northfield Rummage Raid for Charity. This environmentally friendly, community-building, fun, fund-raising event will be held the first weekend in May. Our goal is to recruit at least 50 sites to host a rummage sale or refreshment stand with at least 50% of the proceeds benefiting a good cause.

5th Bridge will organize the event, help mobilize the site hosts, develop a tool kit to make the project easier, give ideas for sale beneficiaries, create a map with site locations, provide regional promotion and organize a success celebration.

The deadline to register is April 17. Visit our website now to register to host a sale or refreshment stand.

If you have questions, contact Candy Taylor at candy@5thbridge.org or call 507-581-3017. More information and online registration is available on 5th Bridge's website.

DISASTER RESPONSE TRAINING. The Salvation Army is hosting a free Disaster Response Training Session on Saturday, April 18 and Saturday, May 2. See the complete posting on our website.

DO YOU SEW? Share your skills and love for sewing with students at Art Tech. A volunteer is needed to teach students the basics of sewing May 19–June 4. See the posting on our website for more information.

DO YOU KNOW SIGN LANGUAGE? Northfield High School is looking for volunteers who are proficient in sign language to occasionally interpret for hearing-impaired students and parents. If interested, see the posting on our website.

Finally, thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who made Rock & Rock Revival VIII a huge success. In addition to the photos to the left, more photos are posted on our website. The show was AMAZING!

As you can see, there is a huge variety of ways to volunteer that will tap your unique interests and talents. Take the time to explore our list of 300+ Ways to Volunteer and find the perfect opportunity for you.

Thank you for all that you do to make a difference!

Sincerely,

Candy Taylor and your friends at 5th Bridge