Seton Center, Inc., a sponsored work of the Province of St. Louise and a leading community resource for residents of northern Frederick County, Maryland, held a groundbreaking ceremony (indoors because of rain) for its new Center on August 19.
One leading community resource in Frederick County, Maryland held a ceremony as they will soon begin construction on a new building.
The future is bright for Seton Center as they soon will be moving into a new building.
“We have to look at, are we just doing band-aids or are we bringing about stemming change so that we do not have poverty here,” said Sister Martha Beaudoin. D.C., Executive Director of Seton Center.
On Friday, Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, Provinicial of the Daughters’ Province of St. Louise and officials with the project had a twist to their ground breaking event because of the weather.
“Originally, we started in 2012 to think about a new building. And finally within a year, the Provincial Council of the Daughter of Charities were willing to fund this project,” continued Sister Martha.
The center will have additional office space for programs and other agencies to the county. The center will have an all-purpose meeting room for civic groups to meet, officials said.
With the Seton Center moving into the heart of Emmitsburg, officials said that construction should last about 18 months. With the location being so close to the center of town, it will enable town residents without transportation to walk to the center.
The new building, located on East Lincoln Avenue, will enhance the town’s image with a goal of installing as many ‘green’ elements to the building.
“We are going to have solar panels on it,” said one board member of Seton Center Inc., Linda Nasuti-O’Brien. “The rain water is being collected. You know, everything is suitable and green. They made it as green as they could.”
The new center will continue to provide emergency services to families in need, expand on education programs for the community, and will be able to provide workshops on different life experiences.
“The fact that Seton Center has a good reputation here, but we are expanding it,” continued Sister Martha. “We are being better known and we are being an essential part of the community to bring about systemic change and make it a better place.”
Originally published in the Local DVM.