After a brief hiatus, SUNY Brockport’s annual Saturday of Service event returned on August 23, 2025. Hundreds of first-year students engaged in a variety of group community service projects across more than 60 nonprofit organizations in the Greater Rochester area in an effort to make connections with their peers and explore the surrounding area while making a difference in the local community.
Students were primarily engaged in general cleanup, outdoor maintenance, and organizing efforts across various sites. Certain placements involved specialized projects such as painting buildings, assisting with food and clothing distribution programs, and making crafts for the elderly.
“SUNY Brockport is a university that is engaged with its community — and the return of our Saturday of Service tradition embodies that,” said SUNY Brockport President Heidi Macpherson. “From their very first weekend on campus, our students get to experience the value of giving back. I hope it’s something that stays with them not only throughout their time at SUNY Brockport, but throughout the rest of their lives.”
A total of 64 nonprofit organizations took part in the event, representing a wide range of community sectors. Each group was led by a Team Leader — typically a faculty or staff member, or an upper-class student — alongside a site supervisor from the nonprofit organization they served.
A handful of partners included the Brockport Police Department, Foodlink, Genesee Country Village and Museum, Hamlin Beach State Park, Mr. Grey’s Strays, The Schoolhouse of Brockport, and the Seymour Library. Other participating organizations included local schools, libraries, churches, community centers, historical sites, and advocacy groups serving the Greater Rochester region.
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