Girls Inc. sows gardening skills in patriotic planting activity

By Ian Swaby
| 10:00 a.m. July 2, 2024

Sarasota
Neighbors

The girls at Girls Inc. already have gardens where they can grow their own vegetables, so a flower-planting activity on June 26 at the Girls Inc. facility in Sarasota in collaboration with Suntory Flowers and Sun-Fire Nurseries fit right in with their experience.

“We are thrilled; the girls love to garden, love to plant,” said Angie Stringer, president and CEO of Girls Inc.

She said the plants were also a "perfect" tie-in with the organization's Grow the Girl campaign, a current initiative supporting girls and women ages 9-24 in a variety of ways, including athletic skills, healthy habits and relationships.

It also tied in with the Fourth of July, with the flowers (almost) sporting patriotic colors, with their combination of red, white and purple.

Renee Phinney of Palm Printing and Glen Rieth of Royal-Tees Screen Printing & Embroidery, both supporters of Girls Inc., helped create the connection between the businesses and the nonprofit.

Delilah Onofrey of Suntory Flowers said that after supporting Girls Inc. through donations, the Japan-based company was glad to finally become involved on a personal level.

Each member of Girls Inc. who participated was able to take home a completed flower pot.

"Our vision is to not only increase the visibility of our industry with young people, but also if local garden centers carry the product ... they can potentially support as well and promote the cause, too," Onofrey said.

Anastasia V., 8, Penelope O. 9, and Mya R., 8 pot the plants.

Claudia R., 9 and Anastasia V., 8 set their flower pots beside the other finished pots.

Harmonee E., 11, Ja'Miyah J., 11 and Mariyah B., 11 pot the plants.

Williannys Q, 12, gathers the flowers for planting.

Rejii'Nae Peterson, 12, scoops the dirt, beside Terri Kelley of Sun-Fire Nurseries

Williannys M., 12, adds soil to the flower pot.

Layla H., 8, and discusses the plants with Delilah Onofrey of Suntory Flowers

The flower pots combined red, white and purple (blue) colors.

The completed flower pots are placed beside one another.

Brianni W., 12, Williannys M., 12 and Juliet Q. sign their flower pots.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.