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
Sarah Beaumont
Administrative Support
Paula Coombs
Children’s Program Coordinator
Amy Doyle, M.Ed.
Learning Vine Preschool Teacher
Melissa Gallagher
Executive Director
Michelle Heath
Early Childhood Educator
Andrea Jurewich, M.Ed.
Early Childhood Educator
Carol Lunan, M.Ed.
Family Support Director & Parenting Facilitator
Nancy Macalaster, M.A.
Parenting Facilitator & Home Visitor
Rosemary Nugent
Kinship Navigator
Jacqueline Roland
Avenue A Coordinator
Arlene Soule
Ave A Club Coordinator
Erica Snyder
Parent Group Facilitator & Home Visitor / Community Resources Coordinator
Lisa Swarbrick
Financial Coordinator & Office Administrator
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.
Board of Directors
Rosemary Novotny
Antrim (Chair)
Kim Fletcher
(Treasurer)
Tom Badgley
Bennington
Dottie Bauer
Antrim
Rick Edmunds
Antrim
Kathleen Robbins
Hancock
Diane Yeo
Antrim
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
Thank You To Our Major Funders
Monadnock Paper Mills
Town of Antrim
Town of Francestown
NH Charitable Foundation
Antrim-Bennington Lions Club
Cogswell Benevolent Trust
Robin Colson Memorial Foundation
NH Council of the Arts
Agnes Lindsay Trust
Monadnock United Way
Town of Bennington
Bank of New Hampshire
Keith M Sullivan Foundation
Presbytery of Northern New England
Monadnock Men on a Mission
Bellows Nichols Insurance
Bantam Grill
Cheshire Medical Center
The Gilbert Verney Foundation
Town of Hancock
Town of Hillsborough
Concord Hospital Trust
Grove Street Fiduciary, Inc.
Emma M. Kelly Trust
Amato Family Fund of NHCF
Madeline Von Weber Foundation
Salesforce
And to individual donors like you!
