Caring For Your Cemetery Day

A day of volunteerism to support local cemeteries across New York State.

Caring For Your Cemetery Day

Graphic logo of a yellow heart behind a white gravestone with the words Caring For Your Cemetery Day

 

NYS Department of State (DOS) Division of Cemeteries is happy to support and promote Caring for your Cemetery Day and encourages participation from cemeteries from across the state. This annual volunteer clean-up event takes place in late April or early May of each year.

Drawing inspiration from New York State's successful I Love My Park Day, we aspire to connect cemeteries with volunteers—both groups and individuals—to assist in cleanup activities, especially volunteer-run cemeteries with limited maintenance budgets, to help them prepare for the Spring season.

Representatives from participating cemeteries are asked to sign up in the early months of each new year to be included in our advertising and publications.

Our vision for the day is to welcome volunteers into cemeteries to help with tasks such as:

  • Cleaning up small debris, trash, and seasonal decorations
  • Planting flowers
  • Removing downed branches, weeds, and overgrowth
  • Scattering grass seed
  • Other light tasks appropriate for untrained volunteers

See a copy of last year's Press Release linked below.

Want more information?

Contact the Division of Cemeteries at [email protected] or 518-474-6226.

Caring For Your Cemetery Day 2026

woman with wheelbarrow
Volunteer pulls wheelbarrow filled with branches
girl carrying a branch
Volunteer moving a large tree branch
man with wheelbarrow
Volunteer pulls wheelbarrow filled with branches
mother and son
A mother and son pose with cleared tree branches
Investigator McGovern plans the day with volunteers
Investigator McGovern plans the day with volunteers
Volunteers are ready to beautify a cemetery
Volunteers are ready to beautify a cemetery
Volunteers load branches to be hauled away
Volunteers load branches to be hauled away
Volunteers proud of a job well done
Volunteers proud of a job well done
Just another day at work for this volunteer
Just another day at work for this volunteer

About the Division of Cemeteries

The Division of Cemeteries oversees the establishment, maintenance, and preservation of burial grounds for approximately 1,700 not-for-profit cemeteries in New York State. The Division works with cemetery officials on a wide range of issues including the sale of lots, service fees, and the acquisition of lands.

To reach the NYS Division of Cemeteries for any questions related to this event or any other issues, please call (518) 474-6226.