We assist several individuals who use Minnesota True Transit from Mankato and found that vine faith in action is connected with that service. Although the service has been great we are very upset and concerned that several times now the bus driver has not been wearing a mask on the bus and even told our client that if they are alone they dont need to wear one. We are under the impression that all transportation are required to wear masks and now our client is not comfortable being on these buses if the drivers and passengers are not complying with the rules. PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL DRIVERS AND ANYONE ON THE BUS WEAR A MASK PLEASE!

CLOSING THE VINE RESPITE CENTER IS A MISTAKE! YOU SPENT MILLIONS ON THIS BUILDING AND ASK FOR MORE MONEY ALL THE TIME BUT WHAT ABOUT THESE PEOPLE? I KNOW THEY DONT WORK OUT IN THE GYM, SWIM IN THE POOL AND ARENT YOUR PHOTO OPS BUT THEY ARE SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE WHO GET SO MUCH OUT OF THIS GREAT SERVICE! I KNOW FIRST HAND HOW TREMENDOUS HOLLY, LUANN AND THE VOLUNTEERS ARE WHO SERVE IN THIS DIFFICULT YET SUCH WONDERFUL SERVICE!! ONCE AGAIN, VINE FINDS ITSELF IN MONEY PROBLEMS NO DOUBT CREATED BY PAST DIRECTOR AND NOW NEW LEADERSHIP! THIS PROGRAM IS SUCH A JOY FOR MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF TO BE A PART OF.....TRULY DISCOURAGING AND DISAPPOINTING TO SEE THIS HAPPEN! I AM SURE THERE ARE LOTS OF REASONS AND DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO BE MADE BUT IN REALITY WAS PRETTY EASY TO MAKE THIS DECISION I BET! A TRULY SAD DAY FOR VINE AND WHAT IT STANDS FOR!!!!

Received several e-mails from this place regarding an issue we experienced and must say that the Executive Director is a hypocrite! Heard she will say whatever she has to as long as she gets her way and behind the scenes it is a different story and we have seen first hand how true this is! Public image one way and behind the scenes OH SO DIFFERENT! Love the cause but wont support it any longer as long as she is leading! Time for people to wake up and see the truth!

Thank you to all who made the VINE vision for creating an adult community center that encourages healthy living possible!I have personally benefited from the variety of classes available. Its a welcoming environment to explore new directions in retirement. I love the exercise classes, swimming pool, educational and support groups. The staff are welcoming and helpful. I have many opportunities to volunteer. Ive made new friends and reacquainted with past friends. I look forward to spending time at VINE every day. We are blessed to have a resource of this quality to bring adults of all ages together. Thank you to all who make this VINE possible!

I have been connected with VINE since 2010 and before. In 2010 my husband was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. I cannot begin to elicit the ways that I received support during those 2.5 years before he died. Now, while the old way may have been cheaper to operate, I see the greatly increased number of people who are served in the new expansive setting, that is so very much safer for people with disabilities. It was scary taking my husband to the old spot... I would have been totally pleased to access this new location. Does it take money to run this facility? Certainly it does. AND many people have access through one program or another to have their participation paid for all or in part. I wonder if some of the disgruntled people have asked the simple question, how could I get help to pay for this? We are privileged to have in this community the largest group of volunteers leveraged by VINE I believe in the whole nation. When I took my husband to the brain tumor support group in Minneapolis I would tell the folk about VINE and they would say, I wish that there were a place like that here... I know of a woman who recently moved to St. Paul. She is saying, I wish I could find a place like VINE for my parents. Ive looked. There isnt anything like it. We who are elderly dont come with automatic entitlements. The costs are minimal compared with the benefits. To health and social engagement. I wish I could give 10 stars to this place. It deserves it!!! I am a member, even though I have little time to participate. Why? because I believe in supporting this incredible outreach to our community. Hopefully I will eventually have time to both appreciate the services and volunteer in this place to make it one bit better for our community!

Any place we go today may not always meet all of our detailed expectations, I have known VINE and had involvements with VINE off and on for over 10 years now. Their services, volunteers, as well as their staff are wonderful :-) Thank you for all of the efforts made to help make our community better. Currently I am serving on the VINE Board, and I invite you to consider becoming a Vine Volunteer. Our greater community could use your service, your ideas, and your support. We need you!

Just read article in Newspaper about VINE needing money because a grant did not come through--well, why didnt you plan for this as anyone who knows anything about finance knows that you should not rely solely on grants to pay for things as they are never a guarantee. Vine asks for money for this and that just like many places and causes but instead of begging for more money to fund things, maybe you should plan better for finances. You have a multi-million dollar building and keep growing but dont seem to be able to find ways to pay for what you have and continue to add more things--I think you need a better business plan and start being a better steward of your money. Bigger is not always better so maybe you should take care of what you have or figure out what your focus is and stick to that area. Also, dont you have a Thrift Store that raises money for you? I didnt see anything of that mentioned in your article in the paper.

Wonderful organization that does offer a lot to Mankato and the people around the area. Wish we could do two separate reviews as we love the organization and building but not at all impressed with some of the leadership (We will not list names as that is not appropriate, but they know who they are). Some great staff past and present but they are overworked, micromanaged and wonder how long they can maintain this level of service and keep growing as fast as they are moving forward. Love the services but maybe a change or two is needed!

Used to be a small, effective group of people that really helped people! Now, a large building, lots of things going on and many people may be happy but my wife and I see a place that has lost its way. What was once a great place is now a place that needs money, money, money and has lost site of really helping the people that need it most. Millions of dollars is not as important as doing what is right but we guess that is lost on the powers that lead and those that follow! Tired of being asked for money to support what we no longer believe in!

Have always been happy to donate to good causes and charities but never this one again! I was so appalled and upset at how ungrateful someone (and she knows who she is) at this place was for getting a financial donation recently. We saw how you needed extra help with some money that you did not get from a grant and figured you would be happy with ANY AMOUNT of a donation. When we heard first hand from your leadership (again, she knows who she is) when they got a donation and said only $50.00, those people could give so much more. I dont care who you are or how much money you may or may not have, just be grateful for anything someone gives you whether it is money, their time or anything else! How Sad!

I am a nurse in Mankato and I have witnessed first hand all of the ways VINE helps our community. The fitness center is amazing and I love all of the exercise classes that they offer for young and old! The staff is always friendly and very accommodating. Pam, the director, has worked with our facility numerous times to organize activities for our elderly population...they love VINE, and so do I!!

Good place to go... Great organization... Filled with a plethora of programs and opportunities that are beneficial to the community and the elderly.... Exercise and yoga... There is also a couple of pool tables as well as a swimming pool... Classes and recovery meetings daily... 4 levels, several rooms... Coffee

Its a great place to have your fitness workout. Staff is very kind and helpful. I feel very comfortable here and it is hard for me to feel that way doing a workout with no judgement.

I cannot say enough positive things about VINE Faith in Action. This organization brings so many life enhancing opportunities to the wider Mankato community. From caregiver support to transportation services, its phenomenal exercise and lifestyle classes to its community connection spaces, I am not sure it is possible to count the ways in which VINE serves the elderly population of wider Mankato. My grandmother spent her adult life helping to ensure that the elderly population of Wisconsin was well-served. Every time I interact with VINE Faith in Action, I think about how this organization embodies everything she ever hoped a community could achieve for its older citizens. Check it out! You will not be disappointed.

To start, my wife and I believe that Vine does a great many things for the people of Mankato and surrounding areas. There are many wonderful staff and volunteers and programs and activities. What we have a problem with is the leadership of Vine, especially when you see one thing in the public eye and something completely different behind closed doors. We also think it is sad and pathetic that staff, board members and others have to be asked to write positive reviews of this organization to counter the negative reviews--sorry--seems kind of desperate to us. Regardless, this is a wonderful organization that does a lot of good but it is time for new leadership and guidance with someone that truly cares and is capable of leading this organization into the future.

Agree with others here--big building with lots of stuff happening and seems great but grandmother could not get some basic help here before getting asked all about money and money and money! Seriously, a non-profit concerned so much about money--isnt that what you were supposed to be about--helping people that need it and get money from those that have it. We would not have come here if we had other means but we didnt and you couldnt find any way to help a 94 year old woman who barely has any money and was so sad she couldnt get some basic help! No need to reply--we wont be back and Salvation Army has already been able to help us--go figure!

Nice building and seems like they do a lot for people. Love there store so came to see building. Was excited to bring parents to building to get help and involved. Met some very nice woman who said she was a volunteer and had to get me answers from others. Read others opinions and agree with some but then was asked lots of questions about money and concerns and seems like other people at place were more cared about money than parents or needs. Sad that coming here for help and met greedy people last week--will go somewere else for parents help.

VINE has made a huge difference for the people of our community. As a Home Care Agency, Freedom Home Care has a membership in order to take our clients to swim, walk, exercise, participate in support groups and much more. It provides a great opportunity to get out and socialize with other active and vibrant aging adults!

Just read in the Mankato Free Press that one of your Board Members is a local lawyer and was recently suspended for mishandling clients funds! This is not the type of person I would want on a board for an organization that is entrusted with so many donations that you keep asking for and receive! Hope this is not a sign of the type of leadership that you have guiding your organization!

People are very rude here. I would not recommend going there. I brought my client in and they were just so very rude and unorganized from my experience. For people that want money you would think they would be a little nicer to people.

This place should be shut down. They are completely incompetent and outright hurtful. Their inability to manage their transportation services effectively has cost me HUNDREDS, well over 500 dollars, this month in missed appointment fees. Further, the volunteer drivers think they are offering a free to me service, when in fact I was informed I would be charged around 70 cents a mile. Rotten, stinky, vile corrupt organization. Takes more than it could possibly give back. Shut it down and demand the county develop and maintain their own resouces. This is completely bogus.

My son and I had a great experience at the vine thrift store but very frustrated with the service at your building. Was told you had medical items I could rent and use but when I came to the office was told you dont do that anymore. After going home called you and was told they had items I was looking for and came down again to find out you didnt. Very frustrating and angry when told one thing on the phone and something different when I got there (2 times). Spoke to several women and there seemed like so much confusion we gave up and left and bought items elsewhere. One friendly woman helped us but other women in person and on the phone were awful

Since my retirement one year ago and my return to my home town of Mankato, I looked for a place to reconnect with people from my past, meet new people, and seek opportunities to learn and grow in our community. VINE has provided this for me. I have attended and participated in programs for self growth, joined the fitness center, and met some of the caring staff at VINE. It’s a fun and enriching place for people who want to feel welcomed and feel like they belong. Thanks, VINE!Fr. Joe Fogal

VINE director and book keeper both need to get their priority strait. Both should be losing sleep over the poor way they are operating financially.Watch staff turnover in the near future. Morale at Vine stinks because of the way it is currently run.P.S. You still wont find restroom availability at Vines store, because the director and book keeper dont feel that the cost of toilet paper and water are worth your business.I hate to be so negative about a place I used to work at and love, but my god, they need to regain some empathy for the PEOPLE that they want to contribute to its success.PPS. Watch for the 5 star deluge of reviews to follow.

Great place to serve adults of all ages young & old

Thank you for leasing your beautiful new pool to Mayo pt

I teach a class here and the staff is amazing and the people that come here are great to work with

Heard it was a good place to check out for services for my elderly parents but seems like all they cared about is money and donations--NOT IMPRESSED AT ALL!

Wonderful place, great programming and community engagement!

I too was at the store and was told I couldnt use the restroom.staff told me office told them so.

Very friendly and helpful