2016 Intergenerational Spring Clean-Up

8th Annual Intergenerational Spring Clean-Up

The multiple award-winning 8th Annual Intergenerational Spring Clean-Up collaboration between the Oneida County Youth Bureau, the Oneida County Office for the Aging and Continuing Care, Oneida County colleges, school districts, and youth organizations had 535 youth volunteers deliver general yard clean-up services to 100 senior citizen locations county-wide.

“The success of our Annual Intergenerational Spring and Fall Clean-Ups is a direct result of our dedicated, committed, and hardworking youth volunteers and their mentors,” Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. said. Picente added, “Our Oneida County senior citizens, who no longer can physically do the work or financially afford to have the work done for them, have benefitted tremendously from this initiative and its volunteers' efforts. They continue to remind us that there is good in our youth, in our world and Oneida County is a special place to live.”

The 535 remarkable youth volunteers were representatives of the following Oneida County colleges, school districts, and youth organizations.

• Hamilton College: Men’s Basketball Team and Women’s Ice Hockey Team
• Utica College: Football, Justice Studies, PT Society, Pre-Health Society, and Intro to Aging
• Mohawk Valley Community College: Phi Theta Kappa, Droids, and Youth Build
• Utica Safe Schools/The Underground Café
• Kids Oneida
• The House of the Good Shepherd
• Upstate Cerebral Palsy Utica, and Rome Campus
• John Bosco House
• Slavic Pentecostal Youth Organization
• Wesleyan Youth Church Group
• Utica Salvation Army
• Notre Dame High School: Varsity Baseball, Junior Varsity Baseball and Varsity Softball
• Proctor High School: NJROTC, Key Club and Young Scholars Program
• Vernon-Verona-Sherrill High School: Interact Club and National Honor Society
• Utica Academy of Science Charter School
• New Hartford Central High School: Junior Varsity Baseball and Varsity Football
• New York Mills High School: Student Council
• Sauquoit Valley Central High School: National Honor Society
• Camden High School: Various Athletic Teams
• Whitesboro Central High School: Junior Varsity Baseball

“With the outpouring of support given by our youth and the high number of youth volunteers represented these kids see the big picture,” Director of the Youth Bureau Kevin Green said.  Green added, “compassion for those in need, caring enough to do the work, and bringing joy to others are three characteristics these 535 youth volunteers brought to Oneida Counties senior citizen population.”

The 8th Annual 2016 Intergenerational Fall Clean-Up is scheduled for Saturday, October 22nd, and Sunday, October 23rd, and the 8th Annual 2017 Intergenerational Spring Clean-Up is scheduled for Saturday, April 22nd, and Sunday, April 23rd.  Any Oneida County colleges, school districts, and youth organizations interested in volunteering should contact the Oneida County Youth Bureau at (315) 798-5027.  Any senior citizen interested in having their yard cleaned should contact the Oneida County Office for the Aging and Continuing Care at (315) 798-5456.