VINE Announces Program Adjustments Due to State Funding Reductions and COVID-19 Relief Fund Expiration

VINE Faith in Action announced program adjustments in their March 2025 Newsletter, which result in their Special Access Services program being discontinued. In their newsletter VINE stated:

“Change is an inevitable part of growth, and for VINE, 2024 was a year of reflection and adaptation. While our commitment to supporting older adults remains resolute, shifts in funding have required us to make thoughtful decisions about how best to allocate resources to ensure our long-term impact.

Late last year, VINE learned of significant funding reductions from the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging (MNRAAA) due to a statewide funding reallocation and the expiration of COVID-19 relief funds. These unexpected cuts resulted in a 51% reduction in funding for three of our Aging Well at Home programs: Special Access Services (SAS), Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives (PEARLS) and Caregiver Support. Additionally, consistent funding from state foundations and other sources has shifted, making sustainability more difficult.

After careful evaluation, we made the difficult decision to discontinue our SAS program in February. SAS has provided bilingual support to older adults navigating social services, and while we regret its closure, we assisted clients in connecting with other community resources to ensure they continue receiving the help they need. We are grateful for Cecil Fountain, Zuleika Abdi, Lourdes Menjívar, past program coordinators and the many volunteers whose dedication made a lasting impact on the SAS program and the older adults it served over the past nine years.

Despite these challenges, VINE remains committed to continuing our PEARLS program, which supports older adults experiencing depression and our Caregiver Support programming, which provides education and guidance to family caregivers. Though staffing hours will be reduced, these programs will continue serving those who rely on them.

The Caring Connection program, which has long paired socially isolated older adults with volunteer visitors, is also adapting. Reductions in grant funding and staffing hours have made it increasingly difficult to maintain the program in its current form. To ensure we are using our resources effectively, we will continue supporting existing matches while referring new requests and volunteers to Lutheran Social Service’s senior companion programs. This transition allows us to sustain our Aging Well at Home services through these funding challenges while ensuring older adults in need of companionship still have a place to turn. Joyce Kolbet, who has provided outstanding leadership for the program over the past nine years, will continue to support current Caring Connection volunteers as needed while focusing her time on assisting individuals seeking Aging Well at Home services and facilitating Caregiver Supports.

These strategic adjustments align with our goal of being responsible stewards of community resources and collaborating with other agencies offering similar or duplicative services. While change can be challenging, it also presents an opportunity to strengthen our core services and deepen partnerships, ensuring a sustainable future for VINE.

We remain deeply grateful for the support of MNRAAA, Greater Mankato Area United Way, local foundations and individual donors. Their generosity makes it possible for us to continue offering essential programs that help older adults remain engaged and supported. As we move forward, community support, whether through donations, advocacy or spreading awareness of our services, will be key to sustaining our efforts.”