Information from a provided press release
More than 200 companies completed 415 volunteer projects for 175 nonprofit agencies across Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, and Wyoming counties on Thursday.
United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes brought together more than 6,000 volunteers on Thursday, May 21, for Day of Caring 2026, the region’s largest day of volunteer action.
Across Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, and Wyoming counties, volunteers from more than 200 companies completed 415 projects for 175 nonprofit agencies, lending time, energy, and care to organizations that serve local residents every day.
“Day of Caring is one of the clearest examples of how we are able to connect the humanity and compassion of this community,” said Jamie Saunders, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes. “Thousands of people from across our region gave their time, energy, and compassion to support the nonprofits and neighborhoods that help our communities thrive.”
The day began with kickoff events in Rochester and Batavia, where volunteer teams gathered for breakfast, team photos, music, mission moments, and community celebration before heading out to serve.
This year’s Day of Caring supported a wide range of nonprofit needs, including outdoor cleanups, beautification projects, donation organizing, painting, gardening, packing supplies, and other hands-on work that helps agencies focus more time and resources on their missions.
As the largest community-wide volunteer event in the region, Day of Caring serves as a visible reminder of what can happen when people show up for the places they call home.
Special thanks to Garber Automotive for its generous support of Day of Caring. United Way also thanks sponsors ESL and Batavia Downs, along with community partners Donuts Delite, Balsam Bagels, Tim Horton’s, Foodlink, Iburi Photography, Memorial Art Gallery, and Batavia Muckdogs Baseball/Dwyer Stadium.
Nonprofit sites are also invited to take part in the Day of Caring social media contest for a chance to win one of two $250 prizes. To enter, participating sites should share a before-and-after photo of their Day of Caring project on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn by May 22 and tag United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes.
Day of Caring 2026 by the numbers:
- 6,000+ volunteers
- 415 projects
- 175 nonprofit agencies
- 200 companies
- 6 counties served
