McDONOUGH – A lot of people promised to help turn the old Calvary Episcopal Church into a community center and library, says Eleanor Troicke, president of the McDonough Improvement Committee.

“Hopefully, some of them will come through,” she said.

Volunteers are needed Saturday to paint the inside of the building, located on county Rte. 7 in the hamlet. Work is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Those interested can contact Troicke for more information.

The committee is converting the 123-year-old structure into a 2,000 book library and performing arts facility. It was decommissioned as a church by the Episcopal Diocese of Syracuse nearly two years ago.

“One, we’re trying to retain the building for the community,” said Troicke, who said the former church is on the National Historic Registry. “Two, we’re trying to provide a service to our community.”

The center is planned to be an official branch of the Oxford Memorial Library and a member of the Four County Library System.