But at Sunflower House in Wagga, it is also an important place of healing for people with a mental illness.

That purpose has received a massive boost through community generosity that has raised about $50,000 towards extensions worth around $100,000, including a massive kitchen makeover.

The state government has matched the community donations with a cheque for $53,471 presented by member for Wagga Daryl Maguire on Friday.

And another $2530 was donated by Wagga court house staff who raised the money by selling 100-year-old bricks from an old jail wall brought down for the court house redevelopment.

Previously, Beyond Bank donated $20,000 while the Golden Gown committee contributed $10,000 and Kooringal Rotary Club gave $17,000, with plans to provide more through raffle proceeds.

Kooringal Rotary is leading the fund-raising campaign and made the application for the government grant.

Dr Ray King, a member of Kooringal Rotary Club and secretary of the Sunflower House advisory committee, said enlarging the kitchen would make it more useful and help meet growing demand, but it would also give people with a mental illness skills a sense of achievement, self worth and knowledge.

"That is the primary thing," Dr King said.

Mr Maguire, the patron of Sunflower House, said the community had toiled hard for the service, which is run by the Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW.

"People do get well, and that is a message I want to send to the community," Mr Maguire said.

Wagga court registrar David Blackman said his staff were well aware of mental health issues faced not only of court clients but in the wider community and wanted to help Sunflower House.

Sunflower House advisory board chairman Dr Ian McDonald said the public had generously supported the service.

He said that meant people living with mental health issues were a solid part of the community.