The thrift store population in Mankato is about to grow.

VINE Faith in Action — the nonprofit organization with an army of volunteers that helps anyone in need — plans to launch a thrift store that will specialize in furniture but offer, VINE Director Pam Determan says, “anything to do with the home.”

An exact launch date hasn’t been determined, but Determan says they want to have the store up and running by the time colleges are back in session in the fall.

They aren’t disclosing the location either, but Determan says they hope to announce it soon.

VINE’s addition will add to the handful of thrift storesin the area. The others are run by the Salvation Army, MRCI, the Minnesota Valley Action Council, P.A.C.T. Ministries and one run by a collection of churches: St. Mark in Mankato, St. Paul North Mankato, Peace Lutheran in North Mankato, Trinity Lutheran in Nicollet and Mount Olive in Mankato.

Determan says the plan to start up a store has been talked about off and on for about the last five years, but it’s only been during the last four of five months that the talk has been “serious.” VINE’s board made the decision about three months ago to pursue the store.

Determan has done research on starting up a business, paying special attention to how other shops have fared around the country.

The decision to launch the store was based in part on VINE’s financial situation. In 2008 VINE learned it was losing a nearly $240,000 state grant that was vital to its existence.

After that, donations poured in and saved VINE. In the month after the announcement of the discontinuation of the grant, supporters donated more than $70,000.

“That showed me that people value the idea of a hometown organization,” she said.

Determan said she hopes the store grows enough to be able to help keep the organization financially healthy.

“We’ve been calling this our year of grace,” Determan said. “We’re trying to figure out how we’re going to make it by.”

VINE’s story will specialize in furniture. And Determan said the other thrift stores in town shouldn’t feel threatened because none of them carry that much furniture. Some of them carry a little bit, but VINE’s store will have that as its “niche.”

One thing they won’t sell is clothing.

“That’s the bread and butter of other shops,” she said.