Families depended on rides that could vanish whenever the driver got sick.

There was an old storage room nobody used, and an agreement with a food bank that had become difficult to maintain after their refrigerator failed.

Leah outlined a plan: keep the center in its current building through a negotiated lease; set aside operating reserves; replace the van with a reliable transportation arrangement; and hire a part-time coordinator so no volunteer had to become the entire safety net.

“Could we call it Chloe’s Room?” I asked, looking at the small lounge.