Vessel Church Joins Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper for Annual Spring Sweep Cleanup

Every year, right around Earth Day, Buffalo begins to thaw from another long winter. As the snow piles melt away, what’s often revealed underneath isn’t always pretty—bags, bottles, plastic wrappers, and all sorts of debris left behind in our parks, waterways, and public spaces. That’s where we come in.

This past April, members of Vessel Church joined Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper for the third year in a row as volunteers for their Spring Sweep Cleanup, a city-wide effort to care for the places we call home.

Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper (BNWK) is an incredible organization committed to the long-term protection and restoration of our region’s freshwater systems. Their mission doesn’t stop at trash pickup—they actively collect data on the types of waste found in our environment to advocate for policy changes and greater accountability from businesses and government agencies.

Our team had the opportunity to serve at multiple cleanup sites, including Buffalo’s Outer Harbor and several parks in Amherst. Volunteers collected and logged everything from plastic bottles and broken glass to discarded packaging and even a few unexpected items (you never know what you’ll find when the snow melts in Buffalo). By tracking the content of what we picked up, we contributed to BNWK’s larger goal of identifying patterns and offering solutions to prevent pollution at the source.

We were proud to see several of our ministries come together for this cause:

• Thrive – our young professionals ministry

• Vessel 412 – our teens and campus students

• Horizons – our ministry for members aged 50+

There’s something special about seeing three generations working side by side, gloves on and trash bags in hand, all united by one simple goal: to care for our city.

At Vessel Church, we believe service isn’t something we do once in a while—it’s part of who we are. Events like Spring Sweep aren’t just an opportunity to pick up litter; they’re a chance to practice stewardship, to teach our young people the value of creation care, and to love our neighbors in tangible, practical ways.

I want to thank every member who came out, every person who lifted a bag, took notes, and showed up with a heart to serve. You made a difference. Buffalo is better for it.

And to anyone reading this—if you’re looking for a place where faith and action go hand in hand, where service is more than a slogan, we’d love to have you join us next time. Whether you’re a student, a working professional, or a retiree, there’s always room for more hands and more hearts.

Let’s keep making Buffalo beautiful—together.

—Daniel Hammonds

Head of Community Service & Outreach

Vessel Church, Buffalo NY