Northfield Retirement Community (NRC) recently announced details about its first Youth Volunteer Event, a gathering of community members, youth groups and others, designed to build connections, encourage community involvement and enrich the lives of both residents and volunteers. This year’s event, which coincides with National Volunteer Week, will be held Saturday, April 16, from 1 to 3 p.m. on the Northfield Retirement Community campus.

“This event is an outgrowth of our Backyard Mission which emphasizes our belief in the importance of putting Christian love into action,” said Milosha Malecha, director of activities and volunteer opportunities at NRC. “Our goal is to bring people together – young and old, residents and community members – to create lasting connections and make a positive impact on our campus.”

Volunteers should meet at NRC’s chapel to sign in before being assigned to projects ranging from gardening and flower planting to other simple maintenance tasks. A key component of the day is arranging for ample volunteer interaction with residents. “This is about a whole lot more than just checking projects off our to-do list,” said Malecha. “We want to make sure that our volunteers have an opportunity to get to know some of our residents and enjoy spending quality time with them.”

Northfield Retirement Community President and CEO Kyle Nordine said, “The Northfield community has been tremendously supportive of NRC. From businesses to community groups to residents, we’ve enjoyed and benefitted from the ongoing connection we’ve had with those in and around Northfield. Our Youth Volunteer Event is another way NRC is working to strengthen those connections as well as provide broad and ongoing benefits to our residents.”

Supported in part by the Northfield Healthy Community Initiative, with funding from the Northfield Area United Way, Carlson Capital Management, and SAMHSA (grant number SP012242-09), NRC’s Youth Volunteer Event has already gained the attention and backing of local volunteer coordinators. For more information or to learn how to be a part of the Youth Volunteer Event, contact Milosha Malecha at mmalecha@northfieldretirement.org or Karen Adams at kadams@northfieldretirement.org or call 507-664-3472.

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 (subsidized housing for ages 55 and older), 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 support they need to lead healthy, meaningful lives.