By student volunteer, Julia Berg

Students take turns selecting a strip of colored construction paper to decorate as a bookmark.

They pick out a foam heart, easter egg, grass, and a letter from the numerous colors and shapes of foam stickers on the table in front of them. They peel off the white strip on the back, carefully placing the sticker on their bookmark.

Several students choose to line the side of their bookmark with grass while other students who place the bookmark vertically, choose to evenly space a couple sections of grass.

Occasionally, a pattern of a foam fish or other foam figures catches the students’ eyes. They customize their bookmarks further using glitter and markers.

The bookmarks were created for the Community Fund of Darien luncheon, featuring the area’s finest 30 designers, who presented imaginative tablescapes. The Community Fund of Darien is a longtime major donor and advocate of Carver programs.

The featured speakers at the luncheon were renowned husband and wife Pilar Guzman and Chris Mitchell. Pilar is the former editor-in-chief of Conde Nast Traveler and Martha Stewart Living. Chris is a former publisher of Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, GQ, Wired, and others.

All guests received a signed copy of their new book, Patina Modern: A Guide to Designing Warm, Timeless Interiors — along with the Carver students' bookmarks. It was a great privilege for Carver youth to add their personal touch to this important event!

Volunteer Julia Berg tells us lively stories about our summer and after-school students at the Carver Community Center. See more of her stories here.