Fall Clean-Up Brings Together Oneida County Youth and Seniors

500 Volunteers Clean Up 105 Homes During 11th Annual Event

Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. announced today that 500 youth volunteers cleaned up 105 homes for senior citizens last weekend during the 11th Annual Oneida County Intergenerational Fall Clean-Up.

Each year, the Oneida County Youth Bureau and the Oneida County Office for the Aging & Continuing Care unites youth volunteers from area colleges, school districts and youth organizations with senior citizens in order to deliver general yard clean-up services.

“The success of our annual intergenerational clean-ups is a direct result of our dedicated, committed and hardworking youth volunteers and their mentors,” Picente said. “Our seniors often have a hard time physically performing these tasks or paying to have them done, so they have benefited tremendously from this initiative and its volunteers’ efforts. They continue to remind us that there is good in our youth, and that Oneida County is a special place to live.”

This year’s fall session took place Oct. 19-20. Volunteers met up at Proctor Park in Utica and were dispersed to homes all across the county including Utica, Rome, New Hartford, Whitesboro, New York Mills, Marcy, Sauquoit, Clinton, Sherrill, Vernon, Camden, Remsen and Waterville.

The youth volunteers hailed from Utica College, Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica Junior Comets, Boy Scout Troop 21, Kids Oneida, Underground Café/Safe Schools, Oneida County Probation, Waterville High School, Sauquoit Valley High School, T.R. Proctor High School, Notre Dame High School, Remsen High School and the Utica Academy of Science Charter School.

“With the outpouring of support given by our youth and the supportive number of youth volunteers represented, these kids see the big picture,” Director of the Youth Bureau Kevin Green said. “Compassion for those in need, caring enough to do the work, and bringing joy to others are three characteristics these 500 youth volunteers brought to Oneida Counties senior citizen population.”

The spring clean-up was conducted May 4-5 and saw 450 youth volunteers clean up 100 homes for senior citizens.

Over the past 11 years, the Intergenerational Fall and Spring Clean-Ups have amassed 10,816 youth volunteers and served 2,070 Oneida County seniors.

The 12th Annual Intergenerational Spring Clean-Up is scheduled for April 18-19, 2020 and the Fall Clean-Up is slated for Oct. 17-18, 2020.

Any youth organization interested in volunteering should contact the Oneida County Youth Bureau at 315-798-5027. Senior citizens interested in having their yard cleaned should contact the Oneida County Office for the Aging and Continuing Care at 315-798-5456.

PHOTO CAPTION: Members of the Junior Comets 2006 Team clean up the home of an Oneida County senior citizen.