Youth Volunteer Event Fun For All

NORTHFIELD, MINN. — With smiles and enthusiasm, about 50 volunteers participated in the Youth Volunteer Spring Event on Sunday, April 22. Many families attended who felt this was a wonderful way to have their family volunteer together on Earth Day. A girls’ basketball team also volunteered together.

The volunteers planted many pansies around the NRC campus and made paper flowers that will be given out to residents for Mother's Day. A resident made wooden signs that the volunteers painted to mark different gardens around the campus with the names of groups or individuals who want to adopt the garden. Some residents joined right in and got their hands dirty; many others stopped by to chat and see how things were going.

Children were invited to make their own mini-greenhouses to take home. Some planted flowers in their greenhouses, and some planted vegetables or herbs. There was a drawing for prizes for those who attended, and veggies and a “dirt” cake were served.

“The children really seemed to have fun, and we kept hearing the question, ‘What else do we get to do?!’,” said Milosha Malecha, director of activities and volunteer opportunities at NRC. “I was thanked by almost everyone as they were leaving for offering this opportunity to them. The residents thought it was a wonderful idea, as well. These volunteer events are a great opportunity to get our community’s youth volunteering and interacting with our residents.” Check out more photos of this year's Youth Volunteer Event on Facebook!

A fall volunteer event is being planned for October 6, 2012.

Northfield Retirement Community has a 40-year history of providing quality housing and services specifically designed to meet the physical, social, psychological and spiritual needs of older adults. The organization currently operates or manages eight senior living facilities across the community: Northfield Parkview, Southview Suites, Cannon Valley Suites, Northwood Pines, Northfield Manor, Evergreen Lodge (memory care facility), Care Center and Kildahl Park Pointe (managed cooperative). Providing a range of services – from round-the-clock care to minimal home care assistance – the housing options available focus on giving adults, age 55 or older, the assistance they need to lead healthy, meaningful lives.