The St. Lawrence County Seat

Community Service

  • Canton Central School ~ Banford Parents Organization
    The Banford Parent Organization (BPO) is an organization of parents who volunteer their time and talents to support the education of their children as well as support the Banford teachers and staff. The BPO coordinates volunteers to help throughout the school day and at evening events. The volunteers help coordinate special school wide activities including Field Day, the Science Fair, Teacher Appreciation breakfasts and lunches, Bookworms Volunteers, and more. These volunteers are vital and a key to the success of our BPO.
    Send your ideas, suggestions, comments and questions to the BPO at: [email protected]
  • Canton Garden Club
    The Canton Garden Club has been in existence for more than 100 years, helping to make Canton a more beautiful place to live. We are involved in plantings within the Village, including the Silas Wright Cemetery and museum, the memorial garden in the park, and the hanging baskets and barrels on Main Street.The club encourages and inspires its members through a variety of garden and flower projects and programs. Meetings are held nine months of the year on the second Tuesday of the month.New members are always welcome. Those interested may contact Pat Furgal at 386-8386 or Nancy Casey at 386-2523.
  • Canton Neighborhood Center
    The Neighborhood Center needs volunteers to assist in the daily operation of the center including working in the food pantry and thrift shop and assisting low-income families with emergencies as well as job search. We also need people to unload Food Bank truck deliveries. Open Monday-Friday, 8am-3pm at 5 West Street; (315) 386-3541; [email protected]
  • Church and Community Program
    The mission of the Church and Community Program is “to provide food and clothing to those in need, to offer referrals for additional assistance, and to do so with respect for those we serve. This program, which was initiated by six churches in Canton, continues to operate with generous contributions not only from these churches, but also from individuals, groups and businesses who faithfully support the program.If you’d like to help your community and work on our team, we’d love to hear from you. Call us at 315-386-3534 or email our director at [email protected] to get all the details.
  • E.J. Noble Hospital Guild
    The E.J. Noble Guild’s mission is to benefit the Canton-Potsdam Hospital through a series of community wide fundraising events and outreach. With generous community support, the Guild donated more than $400,000 to the hospital during the last 10 years. With these contributions, the hospital has purchased a wide range of equipment and funded many hospital projects.The Guild has 140 active members,18 board members and 4 elected officers. The board members and the officers meet September to June on the first Monday of each month.You are invited to participate in the Guild activities planned for this year. We welcome new community-minded members who want to support our mission. Contact us if you’d like an active role to help with baking, crafts, communications and set up during fund raising events. Contact Judy Chase at 386-5204 or [email protected] for further information.
  • Grasse River Heritage
    Grasse River Heritage is seeking volunteers to help make our community a better place to work, live and play for as little as a few hours a year. Opportunities are available for trail maintenance, weeding, mulching, mowing and planting in Heritage Park for those wishing fresh air, mild exercise and camaraderie. All materials and instruction provided. Assistance with receptions, educational programs, publicity and fundraising is also needed as well as volunteers for our Buildings and Grounds, Outreach and Fundraising Committees.
  • Head Start
    Head Start is a pre-school program for economically disadvantaged children and their families. We need assistance in the classroom in the form of working on educational skills with children one on one at the direction of the teacher, reading at circle time, prepping activities for the next day, eating lunch with the children, helping with food prep in the kitchen. If there is a project that someone would like to do with the children, that could be set up if it is age appropriate and it’s always great to have volunteers come and just play with children.
  • Laurentian ADK
    The Laurentian Chapter offers a variety of events and activities that community residents, as well as Chapter members, can participate in on a volunteer basis. These include trail maintenance, picking up litter, helping with educational programs, participating in fund-raisers, and activities like donating baked goodies for our winter “Outdoors/Indoors” programs.The Chapter frequently has work days on local trails. While they do involve some physical labor, it is not difficult work and it is so rewarding to hike at a later time and know you “helped build those stone steps”, “cleared brush or litter from the trail”, or “constructed that waterbar.”
  • Literacy of Northern New York
    Literacy of Northern NY is a not for profit agency which provides adults with individualized tutoring in either basic literacy (reading, writing, math, etc.) or speaking and understanding English as a second language. Tutoring is done by volunteers who are given a free online training, followed by additional optional in-service as well as support from the Literacy office as needed. Tutoring is done in a public place at a time convenient for the student and the tutor. Online tutor training is available at any time during the year. Contact the Literacy office at (315) 265-0194 or [email protected] for further information or visit www.literacynny.org.
  • NYSARC
    St. Lawrence NYSARC, a highly diversified service organization, offers numerous opportunities for volunteers in structured program settings. The concept of “volunteer matching” is the guiding principle in delivering positive experiences for our volunteers and program participants. The mission of St. Lawrence NYSARC’s Volunteer Program is to integrate individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities into their communities by providing quality learning experiences that are charitable and build strong relationships within our communities. Opportunities may include, but are not limited to: Team NYSARC, special one-time presentations, educational tutoring, recreational activities, classroom assistance, and sharing special talents. Long-term, caring relationships are often the outcome of these special volunteer experiences. Enthusiasm, energy, and enjoying people are our only requirements!St. Lawrence NYSARC appreciates the value of community-based activities and encourages active participation in community integration that includes: fitness activities, shopping, lunches, volunteering at other organizations, assisting in community projects, and establishing community connections. These are great opportunities for people who are dynamic, lively, and excited to build new relationships.
  • Renewal House
    Volunteer Advocates at Renewal House are needed to provide crisis intervention, emotional support and advocacy (after-hours, weekends and holidays) for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.Contact Renewal House at 379-9845 or [email protected] for further information.
  • Traditional Arts of Upstate New York (TAUNY)
    Traditional Arts of Upstate New York (TAUNY) is looking for dedicated volunteers to help carry out our mission. The TAUNY Center is located at 53 Main Street, downtown Canton. TAUNY is a nonprofit organization that showcases the folk culture and living traditions of New York’s North Country, offering opportunities to experience, learn about, and reflect on issues related to life in our rural region.A variety of positions are available in all areas including Programs, Music, Communications, Development, and Administration. Some of the positions require a regular schedule, while others are more flexible and entail an occasional commitment at The TAUNY Center, around the community, or from home.Sign up to become a TAUNY volunteer today by filling out our online application or by printing and returning an application to The TAUNY Center.

If you would like to have a volunteer opportunity listed on this page, please contact the office of the Town Clerk or Village Clerk.