Ursuline Sisters Motherhouse project receives grant

Support Our Aging Religious, Inc. (SOAR!), a national grant-making organization based in Washington, D.C., has awarded Phase I of the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown’s Motherhouse Reconfiguration Project a grant of $25,000.

The grant will be used toward the establishment of handicapped-accessible bathrooms with safety components.

“SOAR’s generosity is a blessing in the lives of aging vowed religious,” said Sister Nancy Dawson, general superior of the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown. “This gift will help ensure that our Sisters, who have served the people of the Mahoning Valley for many years, will live in a safe and secure environment in the twilight of their lives. We are honored by and grateful for this gift.”

Following Universal Design principles, 24 living spaces with private, handicapped-accessible bathrooms are being created for the Sisters who live at the Motherhouse, 4250 Shields Road.

Also, new plumbing, electrical components, and heating and ventilation systems are bringing the building’s infrastructure into the 21st century.

This project costs $1.7 million and is being funded by the Sisters with the help of donations from area supporters. It is providing employment for many local architectural and construction professionals.

For more information on the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown, visit www.theursulines.org.