Oaks Employees Participate in the Rochester Erie Canal Sweep

At Oaks, we believe that the spaces where we live and work deserve care, attention, and investment. This spring, a group of Oaks employees stepped away from their usual day-to-day responsibilities to take part in the 2026 Rochester Clean Sweep Initiative, joining volunteers from across the community to help clean and restore the Erie Canal path in downtown Rochester.

Armed with trash bags, gloves, and plenty of teamwork, our employees spent the afternoon walking the canal path and surrounding green spaces collecting litter and debris. The Erie Canal is one of Rochester’s most recognizable and heavily visited outdoor areas, making it an important space for both residents and visitors to enjoy.

The Rochester Clean Sweep Initiative is an annual community-wide effort focused on improving local parks, walkways, and public spaces through volunteer cleanup projects. By participating in the event, Oaks employees had the opportunity to contribute directly to the upkeep of a meaningful part of the Rochester community while supporting a cleaner and healthier environment.

Events like these reinforce the importance of environmental responsibility and community involvement. Small actions, like dedicating a few hours to a cleanup effort, can have a visible impact on public spaces that thousands of people use every day.

“Where trash ends up matters, and our team was happy to be a part of this cleanup initiative.”, says Theresa VanWormer, Oaks Inc.'s Content Manager and Clean Sweep participant. 

We are proud of the employees who volunteered their time to support the Rochester Erie Canal Sweep and represent Oaks in the community. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make a difference.

We look forward to continuing to support opportunities that strengthen and improve the communities we serve.