Refurbishment of the Alexandra St John base - considered long overdue - should begin early next year.
The major upgrade of the building interior, estimated to cost about $440,000, received a boost this week with news that the Otago Community Trust had given $35,000 to the project.
St John Alexandra area chairman Grant Milne said more than half the cost would be funded through grants, with the balance being found by the organisation.
The building, which was "well overdue" for renovation, housed six permanent staff , about 20 volunteers, two ambulances and a van.
"This grant, and the earlier one from the Central Lakes Trust, mean less cheese rolls we have to make for fund-raising," Mr Milne said.
"The work is a full renovation of the whole of the interior and it will make it more user-friendly.
"It's probably been 20 years plus since there were any major internal changes to the building."
Once started, the project should be completed within three months, he said.
The community trust gave more than $175,000 to 36 organisations throughout Otago last month.
The Celtic Arts Festival received $10,000.
The event, to be staged during the Rugby World Cup, in September, is being organised by the New Edinburgh Folk Club.
It will include dance events, art exhibitions, lectures and concerts.
The trust also donated $7500 to the Henderson Arts Trust in Alexandra, towards upgrading its artist-in-residence property, Henderson House, designed by Austrian architect Ernst Plischke.
Canteen Otago received $2000 to send 20 young people to camp in Nelson this month and Camp Quality South also received $2000 to send children and carers to a Wanaka camp in January.
Grant recipients were.- Alexandra: St John Alexandra Area committee $35,000, Henderson Arts Trust $7500, Alexandra Combined Churches Youth Trust $3000.
Balclutha: Balclutha Primary School $11,154, Clutha Valley primary School $10,000, Balclutha Toy Library $1500.
Dunedin: New Edinburgh Folk Club $10,000, St Peter Chanel School $8000, St Brigids School $7500, Dunedin Gifted Kids Charitable Trust $6000, New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses Inc $5000, Pine Hill School $4900, Bradford Primary School $4100, Kaikorai Valley College $3000, Dunedin City Council (New Year) $2500, Mountainbiking Otago Inc $2250, Camp Quality South $2000, Canteen Otago $2000, Otago Polytechnic - Fashion and Design $2000, Parent to Parent (Otago) $2000, Dance and Physical Theatre Trust $1500, Attitude - Youth Division of Parents Inc $1000, South Dunedin Christian Network $1000, Punavai o le Atami Preschool $800, Flagstaff Union Parish $500.
Milton: Tokomairiro Toy Library $500.
Mosgiel: Middlemarch Swimming Club Society Inc $10,000, Mosgiel Brass Band Inc $5000.
Oamaru: Waitaki Boys High School $4950, Janet Frame Eden St Trust $2500, Waitaki Summer Music Camp $1000.
Ranfurly: Maniototo Curling International Trust $5000, Maniototo Golf Club $4500, Moa Creek Clay Target Club Inc $3500.
Waikouaiti-Palmerston: Flag Swamp $3000.
Wanaka: Wanaka Tennis Club Inc $1500.
