7 places in Canton, plus 15 that serve more than one town. Each listing shows the day we checked it, and anything we could not confirm says call first.
Food pantry, Senior Box (60 and older, income limits apply), an East Texas Food Bank partner. Serves Van Zandt County.
Hours
Food pantry: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:00 AM to 11:15 AM and 12:30 PM to 2:15 PM. Senior Box (60 and older, income limits apply): Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 9:00 AM to 2:15 PM
Address
17897 FM 1255, Canton, TX 75103
Call first. Hours come from the East Texas Food Bank map. Please call to confirm before you go.
Community health center with primary and preventive care, dental, mental health and substance use services for all ages, regardless of ability to pay or insurance.
Hours
Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Saturday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
The public mental health center for the area, with adult and youth mental health care. Toll-free: 800-256-5861. For a crisis at any hour, call 877-934-2131, or call or text 988.
Hours
Please call for hours
Address
575 W. Highway 243, Canton, TX 75103
Call first. Clinic hours are not listed on its contact page. Call first.
State office for SNAP food benefits (food stamps), Medicaid and TANF cash help for families. Apply, turn in papers or ask about your case here, or apply online at YourTexasBenefits.com.
Hours
Please call for hours
Address
400 E. Highway 243, Suite 11, Canton, TX 75103
Call first. Office hours are not listed on the state office finder. Call first, or apply online any time.
Food pantry, Free produce, Senior Box (60 and older, income limits apply), an East Texas Food Bank partner. Serves Van Zandt County.
Hours
Food pantry: Tuesday, 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Free produce: Monday, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Senior Box (60 and older, income limits apply): 3rd Monday, 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Address
1404 Lake Dr., Wills Point, TX 75169
Call first. Hours come from the East Texas Food Bank map. Please call to confirm before you go.
State-funded help with electric and gas or propane heating and cooling bills, plus weatherization. It is usually one-time help for households at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, which in 2026 is $49,500 a year for a family of four. Priority goes to people who are elderly or disabled, families with a child under 6, and working families. It does not pay rent or water bills. There is no online application: download the paper form at get-cap.org and bring or email it, or book an appointment at 936-720-7474. Bring ID and proof of all income from the last 30 days. Decisions can take 60 to 90 days, and GETCAP says to keep paying your bills while you wait.
Hours
Please call for hours
Address
1010 W SW Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
Call first. The state lists GETCAP as the energy bill help provider for Van Zandt County. This is its Tyler office, and its hours are not published. Call to ask where Van Zandt County residents apply.
Free civil legal help for people who cannot afford a lawyer. This office serves Henderson, Rains, Smith, Van Zandt and Wood counties. You can apply in person, online or by phone.
Hours
Office, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Intake, Monday to Thursday, 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM. Emergency intakes during office hours, Monday to Friday. Toll-free: 800-248-0048
Help for survivors of family violence, dating violence and sexual assault: crisis counseling, safety planning, emergency shelter, advocacy and protective orders. Its main location is in Tyler; the address is not shared for safety. If you are in danger, call 911.
Job center for the Workforce Solutions East Texas region. Veterans and eligible spouses get priority for jobs, training and child care help. The region's main line is 1-844-ETWORKS (844-389-6757). The Texas Veterans Commission's job staff for veterans work from the Tyler center (1421 S. Beckham Ave, 903-561-8131), not Athens.
A veteran resource center that says it serves all of East Texas. It helps with VA benefits and claims, home loans, counseling and housing, and offers free rides to medical appointments. Its Direct Assistance Program, by appointment only, can help veterans with rent or mortgage, utilities, insurance, internet and phone, car payments and repairs, and groceries. Bring your DD214 or military ID, the bill, and a current bank statement. Veterans with a dishonorable, bad conduct or entry-level discharge are not eligible.
Hours
Please call for hours
Address
3212 W. Front St, Tyler, TX 75702
Call first. Hours are not published. CampV says it serves all of East Texas; call to confirm help for this county.
Report abuse, neglect or exploitation of a child, an older adult or a person with a disability to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, which runs Child Protective Services (CPS). Call any time, or report online at TxAbuseHotline.org. In an emergency, call 911.
The state child support line, run by the Texas Attorney General. Ask about a case, payments or how to apply for child support services. Automated payment and case information is available any time, and you can also manage a case online at childsupport.oag.texas.gov.
Free, confidential help for anyone hurt or threatened by a partner or family member: safety planning, shelter referrals and someone to talk to. Call 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or chat at TheHotline.org. In an emergency, call 911.
Call or text 988 to reach a trained crisis counselor any time, for a mental health crisis, thoughts of suicide or a substance use crisis. It is free and confidential. Veterans can press 1.
Free legal advice by phone from Texas Legal Services Center attorneys. Advice on Medicaid, Medicare and long-term care is open to all callers. Estate planning and consumer problems, such as debt collection, are for people 60 or older. Advice only: they cannot write documents, negotiate or go to court.
Hours
Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Call 800-622-2520 and choose option 3
The state agency for veterans, with VA-accredited claims counselors, job help for veterans, education approvals, and grants to local veteran groups. Henderson County is in its Tyler and Longview area, but we could not read its office list, so call to ask who to see and how to book.
Hours
Please call for hours
Call first. The agency's own website blocked our check, so the phone number comes from VA and the state veterans portal. Please call to confirm.
VA benefits: 800-827-1000. VA health benefits: 877-222-8387. Homeless veterans, open 24 hours: 877-424-3838. MyVA411, the main VA line, open 24 hours: 800-698-2411.
Hours
Benefits line, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Eastern
We have confirmed 4 places that can help in Canton: Manna, Inc. (Food pantry: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:00 AM to 11:15 AM and 12:30 PM to 2:15 PM. Senior Box 60 and older...), (903) 567-6107, call first; Free produce at Crossroads Church (Tuesday, 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM), call first; Shining Light Food Ministry in Wills Point (Food pantry: Tuesday, 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Free produce: Monday, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM), (903) 873-3078, call first. 1 more is listed on this page. Please call first to confirm the ones marked call first. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.
Where can I get help paying rent or a utility bill in Canton, Texas?
We have confirmed 2 places that can help in Canton: GETCAP, energy assistance (Tyler office), (903) 962-2670, call first; CampV, veteran resource center and emergency bill help (Tyler), (903) 566-1010, call first. Please call first to confirm the ones marked call first. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.
Where can I find a shelter or warming center in Canton, Texas?
We have confirmed one place that can help in Canton: East Texas Crisis Center (Tyler main location) (24-hour crisis hotline), (800) 333-0358. We could not confirm a year-round walk-in shelter in the county. For a place to stay tonight, call 2-1-1, or 911 in an emergency.
Where can I find a free or low-cost clinic in Canton, Texas?
We have confirmed one place that can help in Canton: East Texas Community Clinic, Canton (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Saturday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM), (903) 287-5011. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.
Where can I get help with addiction or mental health in Canton, Texas?
We have confirmed 3 places that can help in Canton: Andrews Center, Canton clinic (mental health), (903) 567-4197, call first; 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), 988; East Texas Community Clinic, Canton (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Saturday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM), (903) 287-5011. Please call first to confirm the ones marked call first. If you are in crisis right now, call or text 988. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.
Where can I get help with veterans benefits in Canton, Texas?
We have confirmed 6 places that can help in Canton: Van Zandt County Veterans Service Office (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Wednesday, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM), (903) 567-7985, call first; CampV, veteran resource center and emergency bill help (Tyler), (903) 566-1010, call first; Texas Veterans Commission, (800) 252-8387, call first. 3 more are listed on this page. Please call first to confirm the ones marked call first. A veteran in crisis can call 988 and press 1, or text 838255.
Where can I get free legal help in Canton, Texas?
We have confirmed 3 places that can help in Canton: Lone Star Legal Aid, Tyler office (Office, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Intake, Monday to Thursday, 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM), (903) 595-4781; Legal Hotline for Texans (Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Call 800-622-2520 and choose option 3), (800) 622-2520; East Texas Crisis Center (Tyler main location) (24-hour crisis hotline), (800) 333-0358. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.
Where can I get help with WIC, jobs or parenting in Canton, Texas?
We have confirmed 2 places that can help in Canton: Texas WIC, Canton clinic (Monday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Tuesday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM), (903) 567-6732; Workforce Solutions East Texas, Athens center (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM), (903) 677-3521. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.
Something missing, or out of date?
If you run a pantry or program, or saw a listing that is wrong, tell us. We check every message against the organization's own page before anything changes.