A fast response to the plight of Whalan Lodge has meant the Kurow rest-home can keep operating until at least the end of January.
The home's future after the end of last month was unclear, but about 140 people at a public meeting on November 11 voted unanimously to keep it going - following that up with donations totalling about $9000.
About $2500 to $3000 came in ''quite quickly'' over the two days after the meeting, a response which amazed Whalan Lodge Trust chairman Hugh Cameron.
People had offered to help in any way they could to run the facility and others offered to fundraise.
The level of support had given the trust time to look at how the lodge could be ''future-proofed''.
Initial discussions had also been held with the Waitaki District Council about a special rating area being set up with a rate to help the lodge through the crisis.
However, Mr Cameron reiterated the long-term viability of the lodge hinged on having more full-time residents. It has four. Another will arrive later this month and there has been an expression of interest from one other possible resident.
Whalan needs at least seven full-time residents to break even.
At last month's meeting, Mr Cameron warned ''crunch time'' for the lodge could come as early as the end of November. The lodge was losing between $3000 and $4000 a month and by the end of the year could be $10,000 in debt.
Since the public meeting, the trust had sent out minutes to all those who attended, along with donation forms. An appeal was also launched in the local newsletters - the Omarama Gazette, Otematata Chronicle and Kurow Bugle - for donations.
Mr Cameron said the trust had held an initial meeting with the district council to follow up a suggestion from the public meeting that a special community rate be implemented to fund the lodge.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher had been supportive, so the trust was now preparing a proposal for the council.
Any proposal would have to go to the community for its reaction and would also be included in the council's 2015-25 long-term plan, which would be open to public submissions, Mr Cameron said.
