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GiGi’s Playhouse Canton is fulfilling the dream of the Down syndrome community of having a location where individuals with Down syndrome of all ages have a place to call their own, where they feel safe and can explore their abilities through proven programs with support and celebration. Parents no longer feel the anxiety of finding a place where their loved one will be unconditionally accepted and offered opportunity to become their best of all.

Each participant will grow with the programs at their own pace and interact with their peers in an environment of celebration and achievement. 

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio mails kids one free book each month until his or her 5th birthday. Any child in Ohio between birth and age 5 is eligible for the program, which is available at no cost to families.

Stark Library sponsors this program in Stark County.

Community safety net linking families to resources and social services.

• Community Support Services (Mental Health & Substance/Alcohol Abuse) – Identify, Link, and Support individuals and families through the mental health and alcohol and substance abuse system.
• Community Response Team (Trauma Care and Community Violence) – Refer, Assist, and Advocate for individuals and/or families experiencing trauma.
• Infant Mortality (THRIVE) – Identify and Support women through their pregnancies to reduce infant mortality.

IDEA House is a K-12 year-round, private, faith-based school for children with Autism located in Canal Fulton.

EN-RICH-MENT empowers and uplifts youth, families, and community by providing access to education, arts, health and life skills opportunities to inspire growth, creativity and a brighter future for all.

EN-RICH-MENT provides free classes in fine and performing arts to ages 5-18 through our after-school program, Saturday classes, and summer camp. Classes include art, music, dance, garden, cooking, drumline, dance line, color guard and much more.

The Legacy Project of Stark County provides mentoring programs inside partner school districts during lunch and on weekends/after school in Massillon and Canton for K-12th grade students. For more information about where our programs meet please visit lpstark.org.

In every program offered, a small group of students are paired with two adult mentors from their community.

Students are given a consistent, supportive space where they feel seen, heard,

Serving the Canton community with:

• Emergency Food Pantry
• Diaper/Feminine Hygiene Bank Distribution
• To Go Meals (soup kitchen/bagged)
• Rental/Utility Assistance (subject to availability of funding)
• Showers
• Seasonal Assistance (back to school supplies/Christmas help)
• Summer camp opportunities
• Adult recreational programs (walking club, pickleball, etc.)
• Children’s recreational programs (tumbling, basketball, etc.)
• Educational programs (cooking for adults and children,

Autism Society of Greater Akron (ASGA) serves Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, and Wayne counties. ASGA is the premier resource for:

-Adapted community events

-Advocacy

-Education

-Information and referral

-Support for the local Autism community

Career programs offered at Fairless, Tuslaw, Northwest, Louisville, Minerva and Malvern schools.

www.drage.stark.k12.oh.us

Offers mandatory career and educational guidance to Stark County youth and adults preparing to take the GED test through Ohio’s test voucher program.

4-H Youth Development located here, offering hands-on activities to help youth between the ages of 5 and 19 develop lifelong learning skills. Visit ohio4h.org for more information.

Massillon Museum is an art and history museum in downtown Massillon. Admission is always free. The Museum offers free or low-cost classes, workshops, and events for all ages. A Sensory Room is available for guests on the Museum’s Lower Level.

Massillon Museum is proud to be a member of Museums for All, offering reduced membership pricing and program discounts to those receiving SNAP benefits, and Blue Star Museums, offering membership and program discounts to active duty military personnel and their families.

Hosts financial literacy classes for Stark County residents through its Financial Peace University course.

Located in downtown Canton, the Campus is home to Goodwill offices and 20 other non-profit organizations that share collaborative outreach to the community and find efficiencies through shared space and services.

• Access Health Stark County
• Alzheimer’s Association
• American Red Cross, Stark County Chapter
• Beacon Charitable Pharmacy
• Canton Ex-Newsboys
• COMPASS, Inc. (Sexual Assault Education,

A youth development organization that uses the game of golf to teach youth ages 5 – 18 essential life skills and healthy habits. They provide programs all year-round and also do after-school and utilize trained adult coaches that mentor the youth that attend classes. Programs and classes vary depending on the program and season. Scholarships are also available. Learn more: www.firstteecanton.org.

Individualized education program for children with Autism and other developmental disabilities.

Aviator Food Bags: Weekend food bags for students who may not have access to consistent meals throughout the school year.

Free GED classes for individuals in Alliance. Register for morning classes Mondays at 8:30 a.m. or evening classes Mondays at 5 p.m. (registrations may take up to three hours).

Offers Adult Career & Technical Education

FREE Classes at Aspire of Stark County:

• Earn a High School Equivalency Diploma (GED)
• Improve English (ESOL-English for Speakers of Other Languages)
• Prepare for pre-employment testing
• Study for entrance exams
• Brush up on skills for success in college or training programs
• Improve your current job skills
• Help your children with homework
• Gain personal enrichment and satisfaction

Public school system in Perry Township.

Career tech classes offered.

Northeastern Ohio’s premier workforce development and training centers that connects job seekers with employers by providing numerous resources in a single location

Serving Stark County employers and job seekers with access to all community partner programs, education, training, counseling and employment opportunities.

Ensuring the accessibility of health services to all Massillon residents:

• Preventing communicable diseases
• Reducing pollution
• Health education programs
• Pest control
• WIC – nutrition education program that provides nutritious foods that promote good health for pregnant women, women who just had a baby, breastfeeding moms and infants and children up to age 5.
• Pop up food pantry third Tuesday of each month from 12-2pm: Flyer

After-school programs for children in first through fifth grade, including devotions, exercise, academic support and enrichment opportunities.

Education options for adults in Stark County.

Kids’ College: An education-based summer program designed to stimulate creativity and provide unique learning opportunities on a college campus.

Massage Therapy Clinic: Free once-a-month therapeutic massages offered to veterans through the Hands for Heroes program.

Free GED classes for students in Minerva. Register for classes Mondays at 9 a.m. (registrations may take up to three hours).

Volunteers working together to raise awareness, education and advocacy to protect and serve local victims of human trafficking. Learn more on Facebook.

Formerly Foundations

Promoting recovery through peer support, education, advocacy and networking.

Peer ran Respite Unit is based on short-term, in-house stay for those struggling with mental health and addiction recovery issues.

Free(no insurance necessary or accepted)

Also offers classes in person or via zoom with a possible $45.00 Walmart card stipend for attending 20 classes.

Additional locations:

227 Third St. SE,

Career Technical Education – Helping students to develop professional skills and experience to prepare them for future employment:

• Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA)
• Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
• Skills USA
• Business Professionals of America (BPA)
• Educators Rising
• Junior Achievement

We are a nonprofit that provides a local hub to collect, sort and distribute items to those in need.

Project launches, school-based partnerships and summer camps that empower middle school students to imagine the world as it could be and put those dreams into action.

Provides emergency shelter to the homeless and tools to help them get back on their feet and become self-sufficient

Also provides early care and education services to children that enhance their development and prepare them to be successful as they transition to kindergarten

To be placed in housing you must first register with the homeless hotline by calling 330-452-4363

Offers a variety of programming to meet the educational, social, emotional and recreational needs of young women 5-17 years of age, hosts an annual Princess Party. Learn more: facebook.com/BeYoutifulWeirdo/

The Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD) is a statewide nonprofit organization that serves families of infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities in Ohio, educators and agencies who provide services to them.

The Humane Society is a non-profit organization serving the human and animal population of Stark County for over 100 years. Besides providing a safe haven for the unwanted dogs and cats in our community, we find new and loving homes for them as well. We also conduct humane education programs in all our schools K-12. We take our pets to nursing homes in the area to visit the elderly. Sometimes this is the only time some of the residents get a visit.

Academic, health and leadership programs that create a safe environment for kids to have fun and be themselves.

Programs include a Hot Meal and Smart Move (Evidence-based substance use prevention curriculum and youth development program for school-aged children).

The Early Childhood Resource Center (ECRC) promotes healthy development through family strengthening and early education resources:

• Child care information and referrals
• Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids (SPARK) kindergarten readiness program
• Professional development resources for educators
• Home and group-based learning opportunities
• Developmental screenings and community resource connections
• Car seat help

Find a list of child care programs in Stark County here. 

Provides mentorship for student-athletes, serves third graders in partner school districts through “Guys With Ties” lunch program focused on professional behavior and life skills and runs free summer sports camps, Mind, Body & Soul camps and other youth-focused events. Provides internships for high school students interested in gaining marketing and social media experience. Learn more: http://www.gobeyondthegame.org

[email protected]

Contact: Devin Jordan

A community-based organization that exists to provide needed support for Perry residents

Food pantry, clothing, school supplies and more

Career tech classes are offered.