Members of the Sweet Spirits, a service organization that works out of the Sweet Briar College chaplain’s office, recently spent time working with Amherst County Habitat for Humanity. The volunteer effort started during the group’s three-day retreat, held Aug. 17 to 19.

Retreat activities also included a ropes course in Charlottesville, team training sessions and sharing and worship time.

The retreat had two goals – bonding and preparing the Sweet Spirits for the work they’ll do during the school year. In addition to helping organizations like Habitat, the group plans annual events such as the Unsung Heroes Banquet, Gospel Fest and the Religious Life Fair.

They also lead ecumenical services and the weekly Torah study and maintain the interfaith prayer room, located in the College’s Memorial Chapel. The room is stocked with a variety of literature and includes a “prayer mural” on which students can write prayers.

During their retreat, the Sweet Spirits installed vinyl siding on House No. 27, a Habitat house under construction in Madison Heights. A couple of weeks later, they enlisted the help of several first-year students and returned to the house to paint.

On Sept. 6, Sweet Briar Chaplain Adam White, Sweet Spirit Rachel Sullivan ’09 and six first-year students, assisted by local Habitat volunteers, primed the interior walls of the three-bedroom home, completing the job in just over an hour.

On Saturday, Sept. 13, they’ll be at it again – this time to do the final paint job. “They were really happy to paint,” White said. “They really loved painting and said as much. … They were definitely excited to come back again. We’re expecting a larger crowd this weekend, too.”

According to the “Sweet Spirits Fact Sheet,” Sweet Spirits are a “community of students who serve as a student leadership team to promote spiritual values and plan campus spirituality programs.” All upperclasswomen in good academic standing are eligible to apply, and students from all faith backgrounds are welcome.

In addition to their work with Habitat, this fall the Sweet Spirits will glean apples from a local orchard for distribution by the Society of St. Andrew, and during the holidays they will recruit bell ringers from the student body for the Salvation Army’s annual fundraiser.

Doing these projects “and inviting the campus to get involved fulfills the Sweet Spirits’ mission to get students involved in service and causes beyond their own concerns,” White said.

This year’s Sweet Spirits are Caity Gladstone ’09, Jessica Gregg ’09, Sarah Hall ’09, Ginny Lightfoot ’09, Stephanie Nance ’09, Rachel Sullivan ’09, Madeline Davis ’10, Caroline Freeman ’11, Sarah Phillips ’11 and Heather McTague ’11.

Chaplain Adam White (center with ladder) and the Sweet Spirits install vinyl siding on a Habitat house as part of their August retreat. — By Suzanne Ramsey, SBC staff writer