Canton Shops and Cares

Support Canton Shops and Cares During the Holiday Season

Holiday caring and sharing at Collinsville Savings Society during last year's Champagne Walk

You have likely heard the campaign calling for communities to shop local on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, right? Well, the Canton Chamber of Commerce is encouraging residents to not only shop locally this year but to give locally to their neighbors in need.

“If you look around, you’ll find that our community really has everything you could want for a festive holiday season – great restaurants, unique shopping venues and several distinctive events that celebrate the magic of the season,” said Executive Director Gary Miller. “These events make it easy to give to those who may be struggling to feed their family, heat their home or put presents under the tree.”

Canton Chamber of Commerce members have currently designated five local non-profits as recipients of Canton Shops and Cares Events. These include Gifts for

Canton, Canton’s Emergency Fuel Bank, Canton Youth Services Bureau, the Canton Food Bank and the Canton Historical Museum.

Annual Gallery of Trees

The Canton Historical Museum on Front St. in Collinsville will hold its 11th annual Gallery of Trees event for three weeks beginning Sunday, Nov. 18 through Sunday, Dec. 9. Delight in the joy of the season by enjoying hundreds of uniquely decorated, non-living trees – each donated by a local business, organization or individual. To kick off the event, the Museum will host a festive Opening Night Gala complete with food, drinks and music, on Saturday, Nov. 17 from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. for adults only. Cost is $20 per person.

Admission to the Museum, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday and Friday until 8 p.m., is free.

Gallery of Trees at Canton Historical Museum

A drawing for the trees will be held the evening of Sunday, December 9. Proceeds benefit the Canton Historical Museum Building Fund. For more information, visit www.cantonmuseum.org.

Shops and Cares Designee: Canton Historical Museum

The museum is managed by a volunteer board with the mission to connect Canton’s past with the present to inspire an informed future for all people. The proceeds of various fundraising activities are used to maintain the building, historic exhibits and the library of reference material held at the museum.

Holiday Stroll and Tree Lighting Celebration at The Shoppes at Farmington Valley

Children of all ages are sure to delight in the first annual Holiday Stroll and Tree Lighting Celebration on Thursday, Nov. 29 from 6-8 p.m. at The Shoppes at Farmington Valley in Canton.

The festivities get underway with hot cocoa and holiday carolers. Visit more than 45 specialty stores and eateries for special offerings and be sure to gather at 7 p.m. to witness the lighting of the holiday tree.

During the event, new unwrapped gifts will be collected in support of Gifts for Canton.

Gifts for Canton has distributed holiday gifts to thousands of needy families since 1995. Giving to this worthy cause is a wonderful way to express gratitude.

Jill Brandon and Rebecca Stevenson, co-chairs of the organization, said, “Each year, Gifts for Canton benefits about 350 individuals – including teens, adults, and seniors. In fact, donations for teens and older adults are critical, as most gifts we collect are for young children. Monetary donations are also accepted and are used to purchase gift cards at local businesses.

Gifts will be distributed on Dec.11 at Trinity Episcopal Church, River Road, Collinsville. Proof of Canton residency is required.

Canton Police & Chamber of Commerce Team up to collect donations of toys

Stock the Cruiser Gift Collection

On Saturday, Dec. 8, Canton police officers will host a Stock the Cruiser event to collect new, unwrapped holiday gifts, gift certificates and gift cards from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Shoppes at Farmington Valley.

Also on Dec. 8, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will collect toys in front of the Canton Ocean State Job Lot on River Rd. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Christmas in Collinsville

There is no better event to experience a traditional New England holiday celebration than Christmas in Collinsville. This two-day event begins Friday, Dec. 7 with a festive champagne walk, horse-drawn carriage rides, a holiday tree lighting and much more. The Champagne Walk requires the purchase of a champagne flute or glass charm and it is suggested to purchase these in advance online at

Friends enjoy Christmas in Collinsville at the Champagne Walk

www.VisitCollinsville.com. A portion of Champagne Walk proceeds go to the Canton Youth Services Bureau to support opioid addiction prevention and support programs.

The celebration continues on Saturday, Dec. 8 with family-centric events that include visits by Santa and Mrs. Claus, a charity craft fair, magic show, face painting and unique shopping and dining experiences.

Shops and Cares Designee: Canton Youth Services Bureau

The Canton Youth Services Bureau addresses the local opioid epidemic by “changing the script” for people struggling with addiction. The Youth Services Bureau provides information about established resources that can help residents and employers identify and support people who are struggling with addiction. Donations can also be made payable to the “Town of Canton” with the following memo: “YSB/Opioid.”

Claire Cote, Canton’s Senior and Social Services Director, said, “Police, social service agencies and mental health service providers have developed a robust network of services to identify addicted individuals, intervene in their addiction and refer them to appropriate service providers. What appears to be missing is community support for these processes, particularly among employers. Events like the Collinsville Champagne Walk draw attention to this effort which will save lives in Canton.”

Shawn Cole, Vice-President of the Canton Chamber of Commerce said, “This holiday season, we encourage all residents to participate in the many joyous events our close-knit community offers while lending a hand to our neighbors in need.”

For more information, visit the Canton Chamber of Commerce’s Canton Shops and Cares web page and like us on Facebook.