Project HELP Teams with United Way for Annual Day of Caring 2025

SUNY Plattsburgh students, faculty and staff will once again arm themselves with rakes, shovels, gloves and trash bags as they participate in the annual Day of Caring Saturday, April 26, partnering with the United Way of the Adirondacks through the university’s community service initiative Project HELP.

Campus volunteers who register for the Day of Caring will be assigned to various sites throughout Clinton and Essex counties to help at sites and tasks that may include planting trees, helping senior citizens with yard work/housework, assisting at the animal shelter, cleaning up at local children’s camps, collecting food and clothing donations and volunteering with multiple other non-profit organizations.

The Day of Caring, traditionally held the Saturday closest to Earth Day, dovetails with Project HELP’s mission to “meet the needs of the community while providing students with opportunities to volunteer in areas of their interest.”

According to Hawken Hellebo, sophomore digital media production major from Yorktown Heights and Project HELP communications director, Day of Caring also helps “bring together students, faculty and staff to give back to our campus and local community.”

Hellebo said the April 26 sites include:

• Valcour Boat House
• Local park and trail cleanups
• Camp cleanups
• YMCA
• Adopt-a-Highway
• Outreach Center

“We’re definitely looking for volunteers,” Hellebo said. “While fraternity and sorority life has always had a strong presence at this event, we’re really hoping to broaden participation this year.

 “Our goal is to see more students from a variety of backgrounds and organizations get involved and to make community service feel accessible and rewarding for everyone,” he said.

A Day of Caring is open to all SUNY Plattsburgh students and employees. For more information or to volunteer, call 518-564-3648 or email Hellebo at [email protected].

— By Associate Director of Communications Gerianne Downs