The Wayfinders Wellness Retreat continues to build momentum in garnering donations towards its goal of providing a warm and welcoming space for military personnel and first responders battling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD.

Last Friday, Bowest Appliance Inc. donated a fridge, range, and deep freeze for its kitchen. On Mon. Jan. 25, they received a $2,000 donation from the Canadian Walk for Veterans.

Omid Hedayat, of You and Yours Painting, and his team assisted with painting the exterior of the building, and will also be assisting with the interior.

He was presented with an appreciation award for his support of the Wayfinders (photo below) today.

The Wayfinders are also fortunate to have the support of local Benjamin Moore dealer Jason Banman. He has provided the paint for the exterior and will also be providing paint for the interior walls as well as the stain for the floor.

Many other businesses and individuals have been donating time and materials to their location on the WineGlass Ranch. With a calendar of activities filling up quickly, the more they can complete on the building, the better says Wayfinders president Paul Wagman.

"Right now, our biggest priority has been in the fundraising perspective as far as getting a little bit of support cash to get our fitness centre done, or a little bit of cash to plug away at the house."

There have been hundreds of volunteer hours put into the house to make it more comfortable for the increasing amount of programming and activities it enables.

Currently, volunteers have been stripping down and reconditioning the floor. The expert direction is being provided by Riverbend Interiors Flooring and Decor.

"We're flying. We've probably put in close to a hundred manpower hours, working on the floor surface. It's getting to the point where we're almost prepared to sand it now, and then stain it and finish it. That's going to be the professional work. It's going to look beyond stunning."

The fundraising drive continues to build the Lt. Andrew Nuttall Memorial Gym in the building adjacent to the centre.

Currently, $1,000 has been raised towards the $7,000 sought to make it a reality.

More details on that project can be found here.

There's a growing number of partners in the Wayfinders network to assist in providing a vast number of resources.

"We're working with all these networks so when things happen, our community is reaching out to us. When the military and first responders need the support we're there to support them, and visa versa, so it's a really great network for the community that we've built that's kind of in the secret sauce."

Wayfinders has also started recording a series of podcasts and intends to release them on a twice-monthly basis on many PTSD-related topics. Watch for more on this.