Volunteer Nikki Heath said the drop-in centre evolved out of the highly successful foodbank drive she organised for Community Networks last Friday evening.
People had been generous with gifts of food and a wide range of other items, including clothing, furniture and a large amount of cash.
The owners of the former Catholic Church building on Brownston St had agreed the empty building directly opposite the Community Networks centre could be used as a drop-in centre and Mrs Heath believed it would be open every day until at least the end of this month - and probably longer.
`We are just rolling, making things up as we go along at the moment.
"We have made up a lounge area, there is an area for baking, table tennis.
"People can come and congregate. Everything single thing in here was collected on Friday night, including the plasma TV.
We have set up a children's area" Mrs Heath said.
Hostesses are being rostered so the centre will never be unattended, while counsellors and therapists will also be available on-site.
Community Networks manager Heather Clay said the centre was specifically for Christchurch evacuees and the people supporting them.
"There is tonnes more [donated goods] across the way as well.
"Our building is bursting at the seams. There is a stack of clothing. We are pretty good for food and people have donated money, so we can buy specific things as well," Ms Clay said.
A bank account has also been set up at the Bank of New Zealand to raise money to help evacuees.
Salvation Army co-ordinator Jo Shaw said she had just returned from Christchurch, where she spent a week working with disaster relief teams.
It was a humbling, demanding and life-changing experience, she said.
Hundreds of families have sought refuge in Wanaka since February's earthquake, causing large roll increases at local schools.
The hours of the drop-in centre are 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday and 11am-3pm on Sunday.
