Growing Older Together: The Best Is Yet To Be - VINE Faith in Action

A MESSAGE TO OUR
Friends
Aging is a wonderful adventure
and we are ALL a part of it. This
year VINE embarked on our largest
project ever and our success will
positively change the way in which
our community ages.
During the past 16 years,
thousands of people have directly
benefited from the assistance of
VINE’s staff and volunteers who
work tirelessly to assist neighbors
through life’s hard times. In addition,
the Summit Center is thriving under
VINE’s management—actually,
it’s bursting at the seams. This past
year, social activities and programs,
classes and support groups, health
and wellness activities, and help with
filing income tax returns attracted
25,000 visits to the Summit Center
by adult community members. As
you review the snapshot view of
VINE’s programs and services on
page 25 and the list of volunteers
on pages 24–29, you’ll see that our
impact is significant.
The search for expanded
space for VINE’s program offices,
chore facility, and the Summit
Center has been a high priority
for several years. VINE’s Board of
Directors has evaluated multiple
buildings in search of appropriate,
accessible space with adequate
parking, public transportation, and
room to grow.
Our prayers were answered
this past winter when the Blue Earth
County Commissioners offered
us the Nichols Building—and the
entire block on which it is located,
including 156 paved parking
spaces—for one dollar, provided
that we raise the 1.7 million dollars
needed for basic renovation by
July 31, 2012. In May, we formally
announced our capital campaign and
know that much of our energy and
efforts in the next couple years will
be devoted to bringing our vision
of an adult community center to
fruition.
By 2025, 25% of our
population will be age 65+. Your
investment in this building project
will help VINE continue to serve
the needs of aging adults and build
capacity for the future. I encourage
you to learn more about our plans at
agingtothemax.com and support our
capital campaign.
Pam Determan
VINE Executive Director
VINE ANNUAL REPORT | 3