Volunteers needed for Saturday’s ‘Making Hope Shine’ cemetery cleanup

September 15, 2026  |  By Waterbury Roundabout

File photo by Gordon Miller

Community members are invited this Saturday to join in a special cleanup and restoration effort at Hope Cemetery in downtown Waterbury.

Called “Making Hope Shine,” the project is organized by the Waterbury Cemetery Commission along with the Waterbury Historical Society and the Waterbury VT250 Committee.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19, volunteer crews will get to work at the cemetery located behind the Waterbury Congregational Church and along Winooski Street.

The aim is to preserve and care for Waterbury’s historic cemetery by cleaning and straightening headstones. Local residents, history enthusiasts, families and anyone interested in helping preserve local heritage is invited to join in.

Cemetery Commission members explain that “Making Hope Shine” is part of an ongoing effort to care for Waterbury’s historic cemeteries and ensure that the stories of and memorials to those buried in the town’s cemeteries are kept for future generations.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring goves, buckets, and soft-bristled brushes and to dress for outdoor work including wearing comfortable, sturdy footwear. The work party will take place rain or shine.

Direct questions by email to to Brian Farnsworth at bryan.farnsworth00@gmail.com.

More information is online about the Waterbury Cemetery Commission, the Waterbury Vermont250 Committee, and the Waterbury Historical Society.