Nineteen Sweet Briar College staff members participated in the United Way’s Day of Caring on Wednesday, May 25. This is the sixth consecutive year the College has participated in the community-service event. Three teams set out early Wednesday morning to various locations with supplies and tools in an effort to help others in need.



Sweet Briar College staff members Karen Summers (from left), Katia Suntseva, and Catherine Bost planted flowers and shrubs at Presbyterian Homes and Family Services during the United Way Day of Caring on May 25, 2005.

Team captain Gretchen Gravley-Tucker from the SBC Admissions office organized two events for the Head Start Program. Her colleagues Sarah Elkins, Nicole Smith, and Grace Farnsworth read stories, built paper airplanes, played musical chairs, and helped children spell their names with 3 to 5-year-olds at Head Start’s White Rock location.

“It’s great to get out of the office environment and do something outdoors that really makes an immediate difference.”
- Karen Summers


Across town at the Old Forest Road Head Start, team members Tiffany Cummings (SBC International Studies), Ken and Beth Huus, and Gravely-Tucker built Fruit Loop necklaces, helped with outside parachute games, and colored on cups for potting flowers with the children. “Team members may have enjoyed themselves even more than children,” Gravely-Tucker said.

Team captain Cindy Ponton, along with members Rita Cash, Cindy Sale, Donna Dodd, and Becky Heishman from the Business Office; Babs Rentz and Sarah Ogden of the Registrar’s Office, and Donna Meeks of Physical Plant-Grounds helped out at the Altavista YMCA Family Center. They organized a morning of crafts for 43 children.

Crafting stations included caterpillar critters, fun hats, macaroni and bead necklaces, and the famous flamingo ring toss. They closed their visit with a party for all 43 children and seven teachers. “Although we were exhausted, we did manage to return to work by 1 p.m. and enjoyed our constructive morning,” Ponton said. “We would like to thank the College for allowing us to participate in the Day of Caring.”

Team captain Karen Summers of the SBC President’s Office joined with College Relations’ Catherine Bost, Katia Suntseva in Development, and the library’s Joe Malloy at Presbyterian Homes and Family Services. The crew landscaped the main entrance and emergency shelter by planting more than 40 shrubs and flowers through two layers of landscaping plastic and burlap in hearty red clay. “It’s great to get out of the office environment and do something outdoors that really makes an immediate difference,” Summers said.

For more information about the annual United Way program please visit Day of Caring.

— By Karen Summers, president's office