Volunteers are crucial to the success of C.D.P. and assist in Neighborhood Centers, Head Start Centers, and with fundraising events and opportunities:
- They help the Neighborhood Centers unload trucks, stock shelves, fill food baskets, run holiday programs, answer phones, and assist customers. If the Center Director has to be away from the center, oftentimes a volunteer will step in to assist in keeping the center open.
- Volunteers assist Head Start in the classrooms & kitchens, participate in the Policy Council, assist with field trips, and help maintain the playground areas.
Over the past year, almost 13,000 hours of volunteer time was donated to our agency! We are extremely grateful for the continued support of community members and welcome those interested in volunteering for C.D.P.


Our current volunteer needs are as follows:
Click on a position for more information
Answers phones, takes messages, assists customers with a monthly food package, greets customers.
Assists with sorting and organizing donations, folding clothes, and otherwise assisting in the thrift store-Thrift Store Volunteers may also be a General Center Volunteer.
These volunteers are on-call for a food truck delivery. We call volunteers the day before a scheduled delivery to assist us with unloading the truck and stocking shelves. Deliveries are typically on Wednesdays at all of the Neighborhood Centers.
Do you have a skill that you could teach others? The Neighborhood Centers offer workshops and look for new ideas and presenters.
Assist with preparing meals for the children and clean-up.
Assist with cleaning the centers and/or playground cleaning and maintenance.
Assist in the classrooms with the Head Start children. These volunteers help to role model behaviors and often read to the children as a guest reader.
Volunteers are needed for our annual Tour de Potsdam 5k walk/run. Volunteers assist with people registering for the event and directing and encouraging participants throughout the race. Occasionally other events arise that need assistance-please call (315) 386-1102 for current opportunities.
Sometimes outside groups assist in fundraising efforts by hosting an event and/or food drive. Food donations are accepted at all of the Neighborhood Centers. If you’re interested in hosting a fundraising event to benefit CDP, please call the CDP Executive Director at (315) 386-1102.
For further information about volunteering in our Neighborhood Centers or Head Start Program, please contact your local Neighborhood Center or the Head Start Director:
Canton Neighborhood Center: (315) 386-3541
Colton/Pierrepont/Parishville Neighborhood Center: (315) 244-0069
Gouverneur Neighborhood Center: (315) 287-3370
Massena Neighborhood Center: (315) 764-0050
Ogdensburg Neighborhood Center: (315) 393-5561
Potsdam Neighborhood Center: (315) 265-3920
Head Start: (315) 386-1102