The Grapevine

Family & Community Resource Center

About Us

Our Mission

The Grapevine mission is to promote family and community health and well-being through support, education and the sharing of resources. We serve Antrim, Francestown, Hancock, Bennington, Hillsborough, and Deering, NH. Grapevine programs and services support:

  • Parents and Family Members as the best teachers of their children;
  • Children, so they will be healthy and ready to learn, and
  • Our Community, as a healthy and supportive environment for all.

Our History



A small group of townspeople got together and helped to form a play-and-learn group for young children and their parents. Families And Communities Together, a small nonprofit organization based in Greenfield, assisted the group in its efforts and successfully applied for a grant from the Health Care Fund Community Grant program to open a family and community resource center.

1996 | The Seed



The Grapevine moved from a small storefront to The Aiken House, donated to the Town of Antrim by Jim and Carol Rymes. In March 1998, the people of Antrim voted to apply for a Community Development Block Grant to renovate The Aiken House. That summer, a group of community members formed a trust to purchase the Aiken Street Barn for temporary use by The Grapevine. When it became clear that renovating The Aiken House was not feasible, the people of Antrim again supported The Grapevine at Town Meeting 2000 by voting to purchase the Aiken Street Barn.

1997 | Taking Root



The barn was remodeled in early 2003 and, in June 2003, The Grapevine moved in. By this time, the original play-and-learn group had grown to three parent- child programs, a group for parents and infants, a parent-cooperative preschool, and other family support programs and resources.

Meanwhile, a group of citizens from Antrim, Hancock, Bennington and Francestown began meeting together with The Grapevine to take a look at the health and well-being of people in our towns. The “4-Town Citizen Group” talked about how many people–especially our elders and our young people–are isolated, are not connected to the “center” of the community. We came to the conclusion that the first step in building community health and well-being is helping people to connect with each other, and with the community.

Early 2003 | Branching Out



The barn was remodeled in early 2003 and, in June 2003, The Grapevine moved in. By this time, the original play-and-learn group had grown to three parent- child programs, a group for parents and infants, a parent-cooperative preschool, and other family support programs and resources.

Meanwhile, a group of citizens from Antrim, Hancock, Bennington and Francestown began meeting together with The Grapevine to take a look at the health and well-being of people in our towns. The “4-Town Citizen Group” talked about how many people–especially our elders and our young people–are isolated, are not connected to the “center” of the community. We came to the conclusion that the first step in building community health and well-being is helping people to connect with each other, and with the community.

Late 2003 | Bearing Fruit



The BBC opened the Before School Club at the Town Gym, in cooperation with Antrim Parks and Recreation Commission and the schools. Discussion about a teen center first began in the BBC in November 2006. In September 2007, The Grapevine “adopted” the After School Club in order to keep it open. And, as a result of 9 months of planning and fund raising by teens and parents, the Avenue A teen center opened at 42 Main Street in November 2007.

2005-2008 | Developing Sustainable Support



The 4-Town Citizen group also re-examined the health and well-being of the community. “Aging in place,” community transportation, and youth activities were identified as priority community issues. In October 2006, the group convened the first 4-town meeting to identify transportation needs and resources in the community, and to begin developing a plan for local community transportation. The group was used as a model by the Contoocook Valley Transportation Cooperative to develop regional transportation options that meet the needs of people in the eastern Monadnock Region. By the Fall of 2008, the 4-Town group worked to ensure that people had the basic resources needed to be healthy and well in the coming winter as the recession began to take hold.

2005-2008



The BBC continues to seek opportunities that will benefit the community, and the current focus is our elderly population. A 2012 meeting at the Antrim Area Senior Center explored transportation options, and as a result a regular bus trip to shopping destinations is in the works. Local foods and community gardens are also a current BBC topic, with a raised bed garden project at Antrim Village as a goal for Spring 2013. If you have interest in these initiatives, join us the first Tuesday of each month at noon.

2012-Today | An Established Resource

  • “The Grapevine is so much more than just a playgroup. The people who work there don’t just stop when the doors close. They all care so much for the kids AND parents who go there. I am beyond grateful for each and every person involved in this wonderful group.”
  • “The Grapevine has become a second family for us. They have been there for some pretty big moments in our lives and helped us in numerous ways!”

Our Staff

Paula Coombs

Learning Vine Teacher & Hillsborough Program Coordinator

Leigh Frosch

Children’s Enrichment & Co-Leader, Out and About

Annual Reports

Every Fall, The Grapevine issues its Fiscal Year Annual Report reflecting organization highlights including family testimonials and an overview of programs, services and funding sources.

VIEW REPORTS

Board of Directors

Rosemary Novotny

Antrim (Chair)

Kim Fletcher

(Treasurer)

Dottie Bauer

Antrim

Rick Edmunds

Antrim

Dana Brien

Deering

Jenine Rubin

Antrim

Diane Yeo

Antrim

The Grapevine at a Glance

Our brochure includes a summary of our activities and funders.

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

See Inside The Grapevine

Enjoy this video produced as a gift to The Grapevine by professional film maker and writer, Hilary Weisman Graham.
Music credit: Matt Savage Trio

VIEW GALLERY

In Fiscal Year 2024-25 our Major Financial Contributors included:

All Saints Parish

The Agnes M. Lindsay Trust

Antrim-Bennington Lions Club

Bantam Grill Restaurant

Bellow-Nichols Insurance Inc.

The Bitty Foundation

The Boston Foundation

Concord Hospital Trust Connected Families NH

ConVal Regional High School (Break the Stigma)

First Congregational Church of Hancock

First Presbyterian Church of Antrim

Gilbert Verney Foundation

Grand Monadnock Rotary

Hancock Women’s Club

John Vance ACCESS Fund

Keith M. Sullivan Foundation

Kiwanis Club of Peterborough

Monadnock Paper Mill Inc.

Monadnock United Way

MoonRivers Technology Group LLC

NH Charitable Foundation

NH Children’s Trust

NH Community Development Finance Authority

Osram Sylvania

Perry Family Dental

Peterborough Unitarian Church

The Quigley Foundation

Renew Church of Hancock

Scott Equipment Services

Town of Antrim

Town of Bennington

Town of Francestown

Town of Hancock

Town of Hillsborough

And to individual donors like you!