Do you feel that you need extra study time after school? Are you hungry after school, but don’t want to spend money? Do you and your friends not have a space to go after school? Then this space is for you!
Hannah’s House is creating an after-school cafe located at the Big Picture Theater Cafe. This opportunity offers Harwood students a place to study and provides free food. This will be open from October 14 to December 1st every Tuesday and Wednesday from 3:30-5:30.
Hannah’s House is a non-profit founded in 2010 by Hannah’s family, along with some community members of the Mad River Valley. Hannah’s House was dedicated in memory of Hannah Bedford, with the intent of providing mental health services to community youth.
As of summer 2025, Chrissy Rivers, director of Hannah’s House, attended a working day with the Vermont Community Foundation with eight other non-profit organizations that serve Vermont youth. The focus of this workshop was to support youth ages 16-20. This is when the idea of a 3rd space was curated – a space that isn’t school or home, but an alternative.
This 3rd space has worked very well in southern Vermont, according to Rivers. The founders at Hannah’s House decided it would benefit the Waitfield community. Big Picture Cafe in Waifield, Vermont, where this after-school cafe is located, serves grades 9-12. This space is bright and comfortable, creating the ideal study spot.
Along with a place to study, Hannah’s House will provide food. Red Hen has been donating pastries, and a friend of Hannah’s House is cooking homemade meals. funding comes from the Vermont Community Foundation. “The Vermont community foundation has been super generous to small organizations trying to make a change in their communities.” Says Rivers.
When asked about what the outcome of this 3rd space would bring, Rivers said this space intends to “give belonging and community to high school students and provide adult connection that isn’t just parents or teachers.”… “The idea of this space is to offer special opportunities that students would like.” She really wants students to be involved and express what it is that they want out of this space.
This space will be staffed on Wednesdays, with a counselor available. “It is so important teens know what mental health services are available and that there are trusted adults they can talk to,” Rivers says.
If this space turns out to be a hit in our community, the idea is that this space will be open past December 1st if enough students are interested and more funding is found.
“I cannot emphasize enough that we are here to build what students want.” Rivers says.
