Raise Coffee
In 2025, The Arc of Hanover signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Raise, Inc., the Hanover 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit whose mission is to create opportunities for vocational training, employment, and community engagement for youth and young adults with developmental disabilities. The merger brings Raise, Inc., and its programs under the purview of The Arc of Hanover.
“Raise, Inc. merged with The Arc of Hanover to help us reach more of our goals in serving youth transitioning to adulthood in our community -- and beyond,” says Raise, Inc., Co-founder and Executive Director Melodie Fearnow-Kenney, PhD. “The merger will allow us to sustain the Raise efforts and take advantage of The Arc's office space, volunteers, events, and organizational structure. It will also help us attain our long-term goal of having a coffee shop.”
Founded in 2016, Raise, Inc. began operations by sponsoring a program for special education classrooms at local schools so they could establish their own coffee cart businesses. For the 2024-25 academic year, 11 schools with more than 100 total students participated through these businesses. Through generous donations and grant funding from Hanover’s three Rotary Clubs, Raise expanded to begin operating a coffee trailer at area community events, affording students the opportunity to share their learned skills in a neighborhood setting. Phase III of their business plan was the establishment of a stand-alone coffee shop.
"As part of our long-range planning at The Arc, we were very interested in having another employment-related opportunity – besides our Thrift Store – as part of our efforts to help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities receive job skills and training,” says Diane Gallegos, The Arc's Co-Executive Director-Mission. “Not to mention the opportunities a coffee shop affords for social interaction, which is a huge need for our self-advocates. Inviting Raise to join in with us was a natural connection point, and now we can work toward meeting that goal together.”
Raise will now operate as a program within The Arc. Raise Co-founders Fearnow-Kenney and Greta Selden have joined the Board of Directors and serve as members on the Raise Board committee. The program will operate from The Arc of Hanover Thrift Store, which will also begin selling Raise Coffee.
“We will continue to operate our school-based programs in the same way we have, only now, volunteers from The Arc -- who may be students in school-based transition experiences or job-coached adult opportunities -- may grind the coffee, stamp the sleeves, and pull the orders,” says Fearnow-Kenney. “It’s truly moving in the direction of expanded opportunities for more and more students and adults with disabilities, and we are excited!”
For more information on Raise Coffee, email Melodie Fearnow-Kenney.