Wellness Center Progress: Shoring, Walls, and the Next Stage of Building Healthy Communities
The Clearwater Free Clinic’s new Ruth and J O Stone Wellness Center is moving into an exciting phase of construction, with shoring going in and wall layouts being lined out this week. These steps may look like steel and concrete to passersby, but to us, they represent the framework for a future filled with healthier lives, expanded services, and stronger communities.
What’s Happening Now
Shoring is one of the most critical milestones in any building project. It stabilizes and supports the structure as crews begin to form and reinforce the walls. Once complete, the outlines of the Wellness Center’s spaces — from classrooms to community gathering areas — will start to take shape. This is where the vision that’s been on blueprints and renderings for months finally begins to rise into something tangible.
Why This Matters
The Wellness Center is more than just an addition to our campus — it’s an investment in preventive care and long-term health. Inside these new walls, patients will find programs that go beyond traditional medical appointments, including:
A culinary demonstration space to learn practical, affordable nutrition skills.
A wellness and fitness area for movement and exercise classes.
Educational and meeting rooms for group therapy, stress management workshops, and health education sessions.
A Food Clinic partnership with BayCare, providing nutritious options to help patients put what they learn into practice.
These spaces are being designed with one goal in mind: to give our patients the tools, knowledge, and resources they need to take control of their health and prevent chronic conditions before they start.
Looking Ahead
As the walls go up, so does our anticipation for the lives that will be changed here. Diabetes, heart disease, and mental health remain some of the most pressing challenges facing our community, and the Ruth and J O Stone Wellness Center is our proactive response. It’s a place where care, education, and community come together to build a healthier Pinellas County.
Each step of this project is possible because of the generosity of our donors, the dedication of our partners, and the unwavering commitment of our community. Together, we are not just building a building — we are building a legacy of health and hope.
Stay tuned for more updates as progress continues. The walls may be going up today, but the foundation of this project has always been the community we serve.
