Franciscan Sisters in Peekskill need new boilers for convent or will face freezing winter

PEEKSKILL, New York (WABC) -- The Franciscan Monastery Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Peekskill have an immediate need for new boilers, or they will be facing a very long and cold winter.

"I had a very long talk with God and I said, 'I know you're not going to let me down,'" said Sister Laura Morgan, a Franciscan nun.

There are two things the Franciscan sisters believe in: the power of prayers and the good of people.

Sister Morgan says they need both more than ever.

"If my one boiler goes we don't have any heat and you know what happens to pipes. I've had a lot of sleepless nights," Sister Morgan said.

Just one boiler is working to keep the sprawling convent heated.

Three boilers are down and each costs $50,000 to replace.

Add in extensive leaks throughout the building and in total they need $350,000 to do the necessary work.

"I just know it's a lot of money. More than what we have. That I know," a sister said.

So they sent out a letter to nearly 4,000 people on a mailing list.

They also set up a donation page on YouCaring.com under the title "Heat for the Sisters."

So far they have $60,000 in donations.

"The response has been unbelievable. I've gotten a $5 check from an old lady who said I'll pray for you, but that's all I can give, and substantial donations," Sister Morgan said.

For 150 years, the Franciscan Monastery Sisters of the Sacred Heart have served the Peekskill community and the surrounding area.

In 1970, they had 400 sisters who cared for 1,000 children.

Now just 24 nuns remain.

"There are a lot of people that we've touched in many ways throughout our history and some of them just want to pay back," Sister Morgan said. "We don't need more, we just hope to get what we need, the cold weather is coming."