The building was purchased in 1997 with a generous grant from the United Parcel Service Foundation and a mortgage from Bank of America. A lovely two story older home, the Drop-in Center, provides a safe environment where folks can come, visit and feel welcome. The house has a well-equipped modern kitchen where food is plentiful. Much of this food is donated, and some is purchased from either the Food Bank, at reduced cost, or from grocery stores. Coffee is available for hours each morning and evening, and there is a very generous amount of bread and cakes donated each week by bakeries in town.
Food donated by local restaurants and caterers is always well received.
Holiday dinners are planned and served by members and staff. Each Sunday, folks from the Unitarian Church bring a prepared meal to serve at the center, and during the past year students from The University of Virginia cooked meals and spent the evening with center members. While some may take them for granted, the availability of shower and laundry facilities is a blessing to those who have access to neither, as is having a mailing address and a place to make and receive phone calls. Newspapers, television and Internet access are also available. The home was upgraded with a grant from the Charlottesville-Albermarle Community Foundation in 1999 to carpet our staircase, one upstairs meeting room and the hallway.