The centre closed yesterday afternoon with an afternoon tea for volunteers and Christchurch earthquake evacuees.
For three weeks, the mother of two preschoolers has made room in her busy life to provide comfort for others.
With her husband Aaron, Mrs Heath also operates two businesses and a sports horse stud.
She has had no time to bake, but no-one is criticising, because she spearheaded Wanaka's biggest foodbank drive three weeks ago, which in turn attracted a large volume of other donated items for the refugees.
The drop-in centre was established on March 7 in the former Catholic church on Brownston St, across the road from Community Networks.
But this week, visitor numbers began dwindling, forcing the volunteers to reassess the need for their services.
"It is really sad. When we were sitting here deciding what to do, parts of us wanted to keep going. But realistically, this isn't going to be the future of this building ... Everyone has done well, but it is time for everyone to get back into the community," Mrs Heath.
Community Networks manager, Heather Clay, said yesterday the success of the venture raised the question whether Wanaka needed a drop-in centre.
"It has been a question that's been raised before. But this is the first time that we've been able to model it. It won't go away. It's on the cards, with the [Anglican Church's proposed] community house," Ms Clay said.
At 9am today the volunteers will hold a large garage sale of donated items at the drop-in centre.
The proceeds will go to Wanaka Community Networks for ongoing earthquake support work.
Quake drop-in centre
- Days open: 19 days
- Visitors: about 1000
- Cups of tea: 100 per day
