Our mission is to build a bridge between racial, cultural, educational, and economic divisions within the community.
Our mission is to build a bridge between racial, cultural, educational, and economic divisions within the community.
June Message from the Board of Directors
At its May Board of Directors meeting, the Board listened to the community concerning our proposed development of 315 North Brazos. Some presenters characterized the property as residential. This is contrary to what we learned prior to buying the property. The property was used for a hospital (1930s-1950s) and then as a church (1950s-2020s). Over time, the size of the hospital grew until Dr. Southern needed another doctor to help staff it. When he was unable to find a doctor who would move to Burton, he chose to move the hospital building and donate the property to Bethany Christian Church.
This history was shared with us when Bethany Christian Church offered to sell the property to Bridge Ministry of Burton, Texas. It was their stated desire to maintain the century-old tradition of service to the community. With this historical background in mind, Bridge Ministry sought the guidance of the Burton City Council on our proposed use and we were told that the lots had no legal restrictions on their use. Therefore, it is inaccurate to label these two lots as residential when there is no history or legal designation to support it.
The surrounding properties have a mix of uses including businesses and homes. We included a map in the June newsletter (available at the Burton Post Office) that shows current uses of property in the area. We bought the property in good faith and have already invested in its redevelopment. Change is always difficult, particularly when a vacant lot is developed, as everyone has preferences on its use. We love Burton and are committed to developing 315 North Brazos in a responsible manner. A smaller group, including community participants, will be established.
Bill Comiskey, Treasurer
Barbara Donnelly, Secretary
Ivenus Garcia
Carol Gaskamp
Madeline Johnson, President
Sherri McGinty
Gary Rothermel
Pastor Marcus Snowden, Vice President
Donated Eggs For Our Client Choice Pantry
Thelma Doppelhammer made hand-crafted dishcloths and sold them as a fundraiser to purchase eggs for our Client Choice Pantry.
Both Thelma and Mark Shepherd are members of Greenvine Emmanuel Lutheran Church. They stocked the eggs in our pantry in May. We keep a dedicated refrigerator on hand for contributions of eggs and farmer’s produce; we also keep a freezer for donations of butchered meat.
Our pantry clients also have been blessed with regular donations of fresh eggs from Betty Scardino, Laurell Smith, Tim and Cindy Layman, Troy and Lizabeth Perry (Better Days Farm), and Steven and Janet Johnston (Grass Creek Ranch). Thank you for helping us fight food insecurity in Washington County!
“June is Bustin’ Out All Over”
Fundraiser tickets for a Bush’s Chicken meal are on sale through June 16. Purchase a $12 ticket from our administrative office, The Corner Shoppe, Hair Depot, or one of our participating partner churches. Then pick up your meal at Bush’s Chicken (Brenham) on June 22-23.
June 5 — Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday is celebrated 50 days after Easter. It commemorates the day when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples in Jerusalem after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
June 12 — On Trinity Sunday, we remember and honor the belief of an eternal God, consisting of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
June 14 — Flag Day honors our national flag, and commemorates the date in 1777 when the United States approved the design for its first national flag.
June 19 — On Father’s Day we honor our fathers, and celebrate the fatherhood, paternal bonds, and influence of fathers in our society. Visit The Corner S hoppe June 16-18 for fabulous gift ideas.
June 19 — Juneteenth celebrates the day that enslaved African Americans in Texas were informed that they were free. On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston and began to enforce the end of slavery in Texas. Sadly, the news did not reach Burton until the first week of August.
We’re honoring Juneteenth on June 18 with celebratory cupcakes at The Corner Shoppe and the Client Choice Pantry.
June 20-24 — Bridge Summer Day Camp is scheduled for June 20-24 at Greenvine Baptist Church and Greenvine Emmanuel Lutheran Church, with a big swim day on Thursday. Children grow closer to God through games, snacks, worship, songs, crafts and fellowship.
Helping Hands Ministry
Our Helping Hands Ministry performs minor home repairs for the disabled and senior citizens, and also installs accessibility ramps in partnership with Texas Ramp Project.
The late Carol Montgomery started volunteering with Burton Bridge Ministry in 2010 and, as leader of our Helping Hands Ministry, was instrumental in improving the living conditions for many of our neighbors. Her death in 2020 was sudden and unexpected, and her legacy lives on in our hearts and memories.
We’ve been fortunate to have the leadership of Janie and Christopher Jolley over the past year and a half. They stepped into the largest shoes imaginable and have been leading our Helping Hands Ministry, and were instrumental in last fall’s “God’s Work. Our Hands” endeavor that involved projects at five home sites.
The Jolleys have announced they are retiring from the position, so that they can spend more time on their own projects and with their family. We are grateful for their expertise and wish them well.
Our path forward is two-fold.
Working with a budget of $500 per project has proven insufficient in this economy where the price of wood has skyrocketed, and in cases where deferred maintenance has increased the cost of repairs. Volunteer Joseph Winston III is working with the leaders of our partner churches to identify large-scale funding so that we can really make a difference: that might be tapping into denominational granting agencies or identifying institutions or corporations that have an outreach budget.
We’re also looking for a new Helping Hands leader who is willing to visit client homes, assess their needs, establish a budget, and supervise a team of volunteers to work on site. If you can help, contact volunteer coordinator Velta Clifton at 830-998-5366 or burtonbridgeoffice@gmail.com.
Carol Montgomery’s
Personal Mission Statement
Keep a working relationship with God.
Stay positive.
Always have a goal to work toward.
Be considerate with feelings of others.
Keep learning.
Strive to be clean and orderly.
Do something to help someone else every day.
Do something that requires physical exertion every day.
Never be satisfied with myself.
Use my money, time and talents to make life more pleasant for others.
Don’t take myself too seriously.
April 7, 1930 — December 25, 2020
Bridge Summer Day Camp
What is Bridge Summer Day Camp? Bridge Ministry of Burton Texas, who last year offered Camp Hope, are presenting this year’s Bridge Summer Day Camp. It is a week-long Christian day camp for children completing kindergarten through sixth grade.
When and Where: Monday-Friday, June 20-24, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Greenvine Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 6700 Wickel Road, Burton. Older campers will also visit the campus of Greenvine Baptist Church, 5010 FM 2502.
Swim Day: On Thursday morning, June 23, campers will travel via Burton I.S.D. school bus to Lutherhill LaGrange Facilities, 3782 Lutherhill Road, to swim in a 10,000 gallon pool.
What: Worship, sing-a-long, arts & crafts, wonder stories and STEM activities.
Meals: Campers will be provided with breakfast each day, a snack, and lunch (prepared and served by Burton Bridge Ministry’s partner churches).
Theme: This year’s theme is “Come As You Are.”
Cost: $50 per week which helps to cover curriculum, supplies, and T-shirts. There is a $5 discount for siblings. Scholarships are available.
Scholarships: Some of our campers will receive scholarships to attend. If you’d like to sponsor a child, please mail your check to P.O. Box 68, Burton, Texas 77835 with “scholarship” in the memo field.
Registration: The deadline to register is Thursday, June 16. Find the registration form online at https://burtonbridgeministry.org/gallery/BridgeSummerDayCamp2022.pdf. Forms can be mailed to Burton Bridge Ministry, P.O. Box 68, Burton, Texas 77835 or dropped off at our administrative office at 601 North Main during office hours.
For questions or more information, call 979-337-3370 or email burtonbridgeministry@gmail.com.
History Comes Full Circle
North Brazos Street in Burton has historically been a place of service and compassion to the Burton community for almost 100 years. Dr. Charles Everett Southern served the community for many years in a hospital situated on 307 North Brazos. He lived next door at 305 North Brazos, with a rose-covered walkway connecting the properties.
The hospital, known as the Burton Hospital, was equipped with every modern amenity available at the time: an operating room with anesthesia equipment, an X-ray room, nursery, laboratory, chart room, doctor’s office, a reception area, and rooms for patients. There was a separate facility for the kitchen and laundry.
The Burton Hospital served patients from Carmine, Giddings, Ledbetter, La Grange, Greenvine, Latium, Long Point, Winedale, Berlin and Zionsville.
After a fire destroyed the annex, patients were temporarily moved to Dr. Southern’s home at 305 North Brazos, as the hospital was full at the time.
According to The History of Burton by Annie Maud Knittel Avis, Dr. Southern’s home at 305 North Brazos also served as the first elementary school in Burton, making it worthy of historical recognition.
An interesting fact is that Tommie Gilmon’s mother once worked for Dr. Southern at the Burton Hospital. Ms. Gilmon currently works for Burton I.S.D. and serves on Burton City Council.
When the hospital’s operations became too much for one man to operate night and day, Dr. Southern made the decision to donate the land to Bethany Christian Church in 1956.
Bethany Christian Church was established in 1877. The Church continued operating from that location on North Brazos until selling to Burton Bridge Ministry in 2021.
The city block on North Brazos has always been a location of service and care, and Bridge Ministry of Burton, Texas will continue to carry on that tradition of caring for the Burton community.
The Corner Shoppe
Through your generous donations of clothing, shoes and household goods, our boutique thrift store is able to offer right-priced home goods to neighbors in need.
Shop Now for Father’s Day Gifts
We’ve got wallets, picture frames, office supplies, men’s shirts and pants, briefcases and suitcases, and even special finds like fishing rods, flashlights and more. Shop and save at our boutique resale shop.
Note: The Corner Shoppe will be closed on Saturday, June 4.
The Corner Shoppe
307 North Brazos, Burton
Open 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Thursdays-Saturdays
979-289-2223
Facebook.com/burtoncornershoppe
Furniture Sales
Don’t forget that we also sell larger pieces of furniture through Facebook Marketplace. Look for Burton and if the seller is board member Barbara Donnelly then you’ve found our virtual store.
Or meet our volunteers by appointment at one of our furniture warehouses in Burton:
12607 W. Washington, old Lumber Yard
13560 W. Washington, old Foehner building
Bring Us Your Used Appliances
If you’re upgrading your gently used washer, dryer, stove, oven or refrigerator, please consider donating it to us. Proceeds from these resales help fund our programs and ministries, and we are also able to give these appliances away to those who are experiencing an economic crisis.
Contact Barbara Donnelly at 281-686-4822 or barbarajodonnelly@gmail.com.
Senior Fellowship and Meal
We welcome anybody 55 and older to join us most Fridays for the Senior Fellowship and Meal. No reservations are necessary for dine-in service, and the recommended donation is $4.
Where: St. John’s UCC, Family Life Center, 516 N. Colorado
When: Fellowship and games from 10 a.m. until noon
Bingo at 11 a.m.
Lunch is served at noon
Upcoming Menus:
June 3: Chicken Divan, buttered corn, bread (White Horse Tavern)
June 10: Pork roast, sweet potatoes, mixed greens, dinner rolls
June 17: Fried chicken, potato salad, mixed vegetables (Brookshire Bros.)
June 24: King Ranch Casserole, salad, bread (On Deck)
If you want a “to go” meal, call 979-337-3370 no later than the Tuesday before Friday. We suggest you arrive at 12:10 p.m. to pick up your meal.
If you’re 55+ or have health issues that require you to stay home, let one of our volunteers deliver a hot meal to you each Friday at no charge. Call Taylor Whittaker at 979-337-3370 or Madeline Johnson at 979-249-6211 for more information. Our delivery area is limited to Burton.
Health & Wellness Fair
Thursday, August 4
8:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Burton High School Auditorium
Free to attend
✓ Vaccinations for children
✓ Blood pressure checks
✓ Diabetes screening
✓ Stop the Bleed classes
Questions? Call 979-337-3370
Our Partner Churches:
Bethany Christian Church
Christway Temple
Full Gospel Baptist Church
First Baptist Burton
Greenvine Baptist Church
Greenvine Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Hollow Spring Baptist Church
St. John’s United Church of Christ
St. Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church
St. Paul Lutheran Church of Rehburg
Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church
Zion Hill Baptist Church
Zion Lutheran Church
Administrative Office
Days and Hours of Operation:
Monday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Wednesday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. - Noon
We will be closed on major holidays.
Client Choice Pantry
Serving Washington County
Hours of Operation:
Monday 10 a.m. - Noon
Tuesday 10 a.m. - Noon
Wednesday 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. - Noon
We will be closed on major holidays.
In Person Shopping:
1. Leave carport clear.
2. Park your vehicle and come inside.
3. Please check in at front counter.
Curbside Shopping:
Available for clients who cannot climb the steps or who have other physical limitations.
1. Pull your vehicle under the carport.
2. A Pantry volunteer will come out.
3. Please honk once if we don’t see you.
Get Connected With Social Services
On the third Tuesday of each month, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., a representative from the Brazos Valley Food Bank will be on site at 601 North Main to provide no cost application assistance for social services. She also can connect you with local resources for employment assistance, housing and rental assistance, utility assistance, and more. You are welcome to just stop by, or make an appointment in advance to ensure you are bringing the required documentation. For more information contact Annie Sims, BVFB Referral Specialist, at 979-779-3663, ext 120, or AnnieS@bvfb.org.
Bridge Ministry of Burton, Texas • 601 North Main or by mail at P.O. Box 68, Burton, Texas 77835
burtonbridgeministry.org • burtonbridgeministry@gmail.com • 979-337-3370