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.
July Message From the Board of Directors
A huge thank you to all the people who made Camp Hope a success. It is absolutely astounding how many people were needed to pull this off. A very special thank you to Raymond Anderson, Pat Bennett, Talea Burns, Sharon Chapman, Michael Clyde, Patricia Clyde, Helene Hensen, Steph Jarvis, Susan Kiel, Erik Lopez, Tracy Matthies, Bonnie McClain, Gloria Niday, Deacon Cindy Robles, Tonja Scheer, Jeanette Shepherd, Mark Shepherd, Mary Jane Sikes, Susie Tommaney, Jolene Wickel, Judy Witte and so many more (see the full list of volunteer names further down in this newsletter). The camp provided a great beginning to summer for our campers.
The Capital Campaign is gaining some momentum. We remain excited and humbled by the community’s support for our mission. Individual and corporate donations continue to come in the mail. Almost 600 Bush’s Chicken dinner tickets were purchased. We have raised $36,229.46 through the end of June. Our second fundraiser, the “Let’s Dine Out!” raffle, occurs this month. There is more on the raffle in this newsletter. We thank the 23 restaurants that provided gift certificates for this raffle. Please read further in the newsletter for the locations where you can purchase your raffle tickets. Also, please thank our participating restaurants for supporting us.
At the June board meeting, the Board of Directors voted to expand the board membership to eight. We believe that this will help us stay in touch with the community that we serve and allow us to do more. We are seeking individuals who are active in our outreach services and share our passion for bridging the gaps that limit people’s opportunities.
We will hold our annual volunteer appreciation dinner during the month of August so please look for the date and location in the next newsletter. Looking forward to a great July and more exciting news later this summer.
Bridge Ministry of Burton, Texas Board of Directors
Bill Comiskey, Treasurer
Barbara Donnelly, Secretary
Ivenus Garcia, Vice President
Madeline Johnson, President
Pastor Marcus Snowden
Camp Hope Kicked Off a Summer of Fun, Faith, Fellowship … and Food
Burton Bridge Ministry and its volunteers hit the ground running with Camp Hope in June. In all 52 area children and grandchildren took part in our two week Bible-based day camp.
During the first week at our partner churches in Greenvine we formed relationships and got to know God and each other better while learning about the Bible through storytelling, STEM, games, arts and crafts, songs and worship.
We threw 1,000 water balloons, consumed dozens of freezer pops, launched bottle rockets, conducted science experiments, made stained glass, had a watermelon seed spitting contest, and drew chalk drawings. We identified several talented inventors in the STEM challenge as children designed objects for keeping cool, protecting or comforting feet, staying warm, storing food or water, and locating sources of food.
Every single day began with a hearty breakfast, partner churches catered lunches daily, and every camper stocked up on nutritious snacks before going home for the day. Those children can eat!
The following week we took our program down the road for a week of activity at neighboring Camp For All with more of our Camp Hope curriculum, plus canoeing, archery, equestrian activities, climbing tower, wheelchair sports and a daily dip in the swimming pool.
We didn’t coin the phrase, “It takes a village,” but we sure perfected it. From running errands to buying snacks, cooking breakfast or delivering pizza, strumming the guitar or setting up games and crafts, 75 people, churches and groups helped lead this year’s camp.
Thank you to everybody who helped make 2021’s Camp Hope a success. If we’ve left your name off the list, please do let us know so that we can thank you properly and also invite you the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner event in August. Thank you!
Raymond Anderson
Kylie Antkowiak
Charlotte Avera
Jo Ann Beckermann
Pat Bennett (Ahlhardt)
Marilyn Blakey
Talea Burns
Sharon Chapman
Michael Clyde
Patricia Clyde
Betty Dallmeyer
Bill Dean
Barbara Donnelly
Thelma Doppelhammer
Camryn Douglas
Karen Douglas
Ed Ehring
Lee Ehring
Pastor Jack Faulkner
Ashley Galvan
Ivenus Garcia
Mary Garcia
Tommie Gilmon
Connie Gwyn
Kelly Henk
Helene Hensen
Pastor Bob Hofmann
Gherlaine Hofmann
Pastor Darrin Holub
Steph Jarvis
Madeline Johnson
Susan Kiel
Vicki Lee
Brianna Lindner
Erik Lopez
The Rev. Dr. Alvin Luedke
Becky Luedke
Cindy Lyles
Tracy Matthies
Bonnie McClain
Denise McHugh
Gloria Niday
Jacquy Pearson
Raye Pearson
Harry Penkert
Patti Penkert
Sue Pinkerton
Donna Putnam
Debbie Reed
Michelle Wright Rhame
Deacon Cindy Robles
Kara Rouse
Kayla Rouse
Tonja Scheer
Roger Schulte
Jeanette Shepherd
Mark Shepherd
Teresa Shuey
Mary Jane Sikes
Laurell Smith
Charles Stevens
Deborah Stevens
Linda Thaler
Carolyn Thiemer
Susie Tommaney
Mrs. Jerry Watson
Jerry Wickel
Jolene Wickel
Judy Witte
Bethany Christian Church
Greenvine Baptist Church
Greenvine Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Sarah Evening Circle
St. John’s United Church of Christ
St. Paul Lutheran Church of Rehburg
Thrivent Financial
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Senior Fellowship and Dining
Never miss a day of fun when it comes to our Senior Fellowship and Meal at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 516 North Colorado, Family Life Center. Just call 979-337-3370 by the Tuesday before the Friday and let us know you’re coming (and how many are in your party). Games and fellowship are from 10 a.m. to noon, BINGO begins at 11 a.m., and we serve lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m. The recommended donation is $4.
Upcoming Menus:
July 2: No meal; 4th of July holiday weekend
July 9: Cheese enchiladas, Spanish rice, beans (Los Patrones)
July 16: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, dinner rolls
July 23: Lasagna, salad, garlic bread (On Deck)
July 30: Cowboy Spaghetti, salad, bread (White Horse Tavern)
Starting July 9, we will no longer offer the drive-thru senior meal option. If you want a “to go” meal, you can pre-order the meal no later than the Tuesday preceding the Friday but must come inside to pick up your meal. We will serve our dine-in seniors first and then prepare the “to go” meals. 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 team leader Pat Ahlhardt at 979-421-0972 for more information. Our delivery area is limited to Burton.
Manna Mobile Food Pantry
Upcoming food pantry dates are July 16, August 20, and September 17. Food is distributed from 10 a.m. until noon (or until the food runs out) from the parking lot of St. John’s United Church of Christ, 516 North Colorado, Burton.
We will re-enroll all pantry clients during the September food pantry (this happens once a year). Each client must visit in person to fill out the application; after that first visit they can send somebody else to pick up their food. Call 979-337-3370 if you cannot attend on Friday mornings but still need food assistance.
Volunteers are invited to help with set-up (8-10 a.m.), during food distribution (10-11:30 a.m.), or to put away tables and deliver to the homebound (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.).
Our mobile food pantry serves Washington County residents who qualify through the Texas Commodity Assistance Program. The below income guidelines begin July 1 and remain effective through June 30, 2022.
Number of household members = 1; income should not exceed $23,828 (annually), $1,986 (monthly) or $459 (weekly)
Number of household members = 2; income should not exceed $32,227 (annually), $2,686 (monthly) or $620 (weekly)
Number of household members = 3; income should not exceed $40,626 (annually), $3,386 (monthly) or $782 (weekly)
Number of household members = 4; income should not exceed $49,025 (annually), $4,086 (monthly) or $943 (weekly)
Visit burtonbridgeministry.org/Get-Help for the income guidelines for households with a larger number of family members.
Other ways to qualify include individuals who are receiving one or more of the following types of assistance: Temporary Assistance To Needy Families (TANF / AFDC), SNAP (Food Stamps), SSI, Medicaid, CHIP or WIC. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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“Growing With God’s Grace” Capital Campaign
Our 2021-2022 capital campaign continues and we have been blessed by the generosity of dozens of supporters. Individuals, partner churches, businesses and anonymous gifts have enabled our building fund to grow. Immediate priorities include enhancing our food and feeding programs and expanding our thrift store retail space. We’re off to a great start!
“Let’s Dine Out!” Raffle
Wouldn’t it be fun to explore that hot new eatery or revisit one of your all-time favorite restaurants? Almost two dozen area dining establishments are participating in Burton Bridge Ministry’s “Let’s Dine Out!” raffle, a fundraiser that benefits the ministry’s capital campaign while also giving ticket-holders a chance to win a gift certificate valued between $20 and $100.
Raffle tickets can be purchased for $5 (giving one chance), or three chances for $10. Participating restaurants are listed first by highest value, and then alphabetically: Lone Star Southern Grill, Applebee’s Grill and Bar, JW’s Steakhouse, Mariachi’s Mexican Restaurant, Pizzaiolo’s Pizza, Smitty’s Cafe and Bakery, Blue Willow Cafe, On Deck Restaurant, Royers Pie Haven, Los Cabos Mexican Grill and Steak House, White Horse Tavern, Nathan’s BBQ, Pioneer Smokehouse, Sealand Seafood and Steak, Teague’s Tavern, Brenham Grill, Brazos Belle Restaurant, Dairy Bar, Las Americas Latin Cuisine, Los Patrones Mexican Grill, Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant and Taqueria, Must Be Heaven Sandwich Shoppe, and Neon Moon Coffee Roasters.
Raffle tickets can be purchased on Sundays in July at participating partner churches:
• Bethany Christian Church, 307 North Brazos, Burton
• First Baptist Church of Burton, 920 North Colorado, Burton
• Greenvine Baptist Church, 5010 FM 2502, Burton
• Greenvine Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 6700 Wickel Road, Burton
• St. John’s United Church of Christ, 516 North Colorado, Burton
• St. Paul Lutheran Church of Rehburg, 4450 FM 1948 North, Burton
• Zion Hill Baptist Church, 702 Ben Tap Lane, Burton
• Zion Lutheran Church, 1800 FM 2679, Brenham
Raffle tickets also can be purchased at any of the following locations and/or events:
The Corner Shoppe, Thursdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 601 North Main, Burton. For information, visit facebook.com/burtoncornershoppe
Burton Farmers & Artisans Market, Saturday, July 3, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 307 North Main, Burton. For information, visit https://fb.me/e/4oY3KE9jn
Greenvine Baptist Church’s 4th of July Barbeque, Sunday, July 4 from 6-8 p.m., 5010 FM 2502, Burton. For more information, visit https://www.greenvinebaptist.org
Margaret E. Blizzard Senior Activity Center: Friday, July 9, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Wednesday, July 14, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; and Tuesday, July 20, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., 1301 East Tom Green Street, Brenham
Hair Depot, 12515 Texas Street, Burton, during regular business hours.
Let’s Dine Out Raffle is conducted by Bridge Ministry of Burton, Texas, PO Box 68, Burton, Texas 77835. Cost of ticket is $5 for 1 chance or 3 chances for $10. Winning tickets will be drawn on July 22, 2021 at the meeting of the Board of Directors for Bridge Ministry of Burton Texas. You do not need to be present to win. Winners will be contacted within 30 days using the information provided on the raffle ticket. Prizes must be claimed no later than August 18, 2021. A second drawing will be held on August 19, 2021 to award prizes unclaimed at that time. All proceeds benefit the capital campaign for Bridge Ministry of Burton, Texas. Each gift certificate has a minimum value of at least $20.
Bush’s Chicken Fundraiser
There was extra traffic on Highway 290 the last weekend in June, as folks from Burton headed in to Brenham to pick up their Bush’s Chicken meals June 24, 25 and 26.
Our sisters and brothers at Greenvine Emmanuel Lutheran Church donated 14 dinners, which were delivered in person to those who lack transportation. Board member Barbara Donnelly said she encountered many smiles as she handed out those boxed chicken dinners.
In all, we raised $2,985 for our “Growing With God’s Grace” capital campaign. It’s a feel good story that benefited a local restaurant (thank you, Bush’s Chicken), while also allowing our stakeholders the opportunity to help out.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic in Burton
Brazos County Health District is bringing its Brazos Valley Mobile Action Team (BVMAT) to administer a vaccine clinic on Friday, July 16, from 8-10 a.m. at St. John’s United Church of Christ, outdoor garden area, 516 North Colorado, Burton. The second dose will be administered on Thursday, August 5, from 8-10 a.m., also at St. John’s UCC.
Reservations are requested but not required for the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Identification is not needed.
As of May 12, 2021, everyone 12 years old and older is now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas. Minors wishing to be vaccinated will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
RSVP to LaToya Taylor at 979-361-5747 or ltaylor@brazoscountytx.gov or Burton Bridge Ministry at 979-337-3370 or burtonbridgeministry@gmail.com.
Brazos Valley Health is offering the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2. The Brazos County Health District is not affiliated with the Washington County EMS or its SubHub.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
In Search of Volunteer Coordinator
Did you know that Bridge Ministry of Burton, Texas has just three part-time staffers (an executive director and two thrift store managers)? Yet our service hours each week number in the hundreds. Our ministries are made possible through the help of dozens of wonderful volunteers as well as the leadership of our Board of Directors.
Our growth plans include a larger thrift store and a client choice food pantry, but those shelves won’t stock themselves. With an eye toward the future, we’re looking for a volunteer to step up and identify adults and teens who are interested in serving.
It’s not just the ability to match gifts and talents — though that’s a big part of this job — there also are certain requirements.
Those who assist at our mobile food pantry must take an online Civil Rights training course, a requirement set forth by the USDA Child Nutrition Program and enforced by the Brazos Valley Food Bank.
Those who work with children and youth are asked to consent to a background check that includes a search through the national sex offender registry, take our insurer’s 45-minute online child safety course, agree to abide by Burton Bridge Ministry’s child safety guidelines, and have been volunteering with us for at least six months before working with children.
If interested, call 979-337-3370 or email burtonbridgeministry@gmail.com for more information.
Join the Helping Hands Crew
Many hands make light work and our team leaders, Janie and Christopher Jolley, are in search of a few more volunteers to help with minor home repairs. It helps to own work gloves, a cordless drill, tape measure, hammer and screwdrivers — but the rest can be taught. This month’s projects include tearing out some damaged sheetrock, fixing a door jamb, and bolstering a bathroom floor on a manufactured home. Email burtonbridgeministry@gmail.com if you can help.
Job Fair and Career Assistance Seminars
Our Lunch-and-Learn program is off to a great start, offering every other month seminars on overcoming perceived obstacles to employment, the construction trade, and entrepreneurship.
We’re looking for a volunteer to organize and promote the next event, and ensure that those who are jobless or underemployed are invited to attend. Getting hired can be the first step toward transformational change; won’t you join us for this rewarding ministry? If interested, email burtonbridgeministry@gmail.com for more information.
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The Corner Shoppe
Christmas in July SALE! Everybody knows the best deals can be found off-season, and The Corner Shoppe’s “Christmas in July” sale proves the point. Donations of wreaths, décor, artificial trees, Christmas ornaments, holiday platters, collectibles and more have been accumulating in storage, so it’s time to bust open those doors and have a giant sale. Shop with us July 15-17, July 22-24 and July 29-31 for oh-so-merry savings on holiday decor.
The first weekend of the month brings fabulous savings on clothing (July 1-3 and August 5-7), the second weekend of the month features discounted shoes (July 8-10 and August 12-14).
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.
In August, make The Corner Shoppe your first stop for back-to-school shopping and savings. Stock up on clothing, shoes, backpacks, school supplies and so much more.
Mark your calendars for the Sales Tax Holiday on Friday and Saturday, August 6-7. Get ready for school and pay no tax on backpacks, clothing, footwear and school supplies.
The Corner Shoppe • 601 N. Main, Burton • Open 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursdays-Saturdays
Facebook.com/burtoncornershoppe
Bridge Ministry of Burton, Texas • 12607 W. Washington or by mail at P.O. Box 68, Burton, Texas 77835
burtonbridgeministry.org • burtonbridgeministry@gmail.com • 979-337-3370