Our mission is to build a bridge between racial, cultural, educational, and economic divisions within the community.
February 2023 Newsletter
Our mission is to build a bridge between racial, cultural, educational, and economic divisions within the community.
During the January 19th meeting of the Board of Directors, new officers were nominated and elected. Barbara Donnelly will assume the helm as president of our board.
We are grateful to outgoing president Madeline Johnson for her stewardship, leadership, guidance and wisdom. She has steered our ministry from “small but mighty” to become a valuable and trusted resource for the Burton community.
Pastor Marcus Snowden will continue as vice president, and Bill Comiskey will continue as treasurer.
Burton resident Tracy Patterson was named to the board, filling a position vacated by Sherri McGinty.
Patterson and Johnson will serve as co-secretaries.
by Barbara Donnelly, Board President
It has been such a joy serving as secretary on Burton Bridge Ministry’s Board of Directors over the past few years. There is such an amazing energy with this organization, as literally hundreds of volunteers work together to make life better for our neighbors.
Just a few years ago I had served as president of Church Council for Greenvine Emmanuel Lutheran Church. The position was both challenging and fulfilling, but my season was over and other members have continued in that role.
God always has a plan, but sometimes it takes us a while to see where He is leading us. It will be an adjustment for me as I leave behind my board role as secretary and step into the very big shoes left behind by outgoing president Madeline Johnson. But I know that I am not alone, and God is guiding me in this new role.
Thank you for joining me on this journey as we continue to show God’s love through action and giving.
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
Bill Comiskey, treasurer
Barbara Donnelly, president
Ivenus Garcia
Carol Gaskamp
Madeline Johnson, co-secretary
Tracy Patterson, co-secretary
Pastor Marcus Snowden, vice-president
Gary Rothermel
Ours is resilience. For anybody driving south on Main Street, it’s hard to miss the 500-gallon propane tank we recently added to our Client Choice Pantry.
We applied for and received a generous grant from the Brazos Valley Food Bank. These funds were used to increase our capacity to distribute and preserve fresh and seasonal produce to the community.
As with any circa 1940s building, there also was some infrastructure that needed upgrading including a state-of-the-art, code compliant panel board and dedicated outlets for each appliance.
We added four upright convertible refrigerators and freezers, the propane tank, and a generator in case of a power outage. Fayetteville Propane topped us up before December’s freeze and we are ready for anything.
Our first order in January was bountiful: grapes, green apples, Asian mix salad, chicken Caesar salad, cabbage, and lettuce, as well as a wide variety of proteins. God is good, all the time.
Join Burton Bridge Ministry on Friday, February 17 at 11:30 a.m. at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 516 North Colorado.
Angela Allison, M.A. from the Brazos Valley Area Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is the special guest speaker. Learn about how to choose a nursing home, how to secure placement, how to pay for care, and how to manage problems during a stay.
There is no charge for the program, and please consider staying after for lunch ($4). The menu features fried chicken, potato salad, and mixed vegetables.
Questions? Call 979-337-3370.
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 suggested price 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:
Feb. 3: Lasagna, salad, garlic bread (catering by On Deck)
Feb. 10: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, dinner rolls
Feb. 17: Fried chicken, potato salad, mixed vegetables (chicken catered by Brookshire Bros.)
Feb. 24: Chicken Divan, buttered corn, bread (catering by White Horse Tavern)
Mar. 3: Cheese enchiladas, charro beans (catering by Juanita’s Tacos)
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 our administrative office at 979-337-3370 for more information. Our delivery area is limited to Burton.
With the goal of advancing plans for a 1,800 s.f. furniture building with a 300 s.f. overhang, we have invited area contractors to submit bids for the scope of work.
Bid #1: Cut down and remove a large tree behind our thrift store at 307 North Brazos.
Bid #2: Using plans provided by Gessner engineering, perform the dirt work for a 2,100 s.f. concrete slab.
Bid #3: Using plans prepared by Gessner engineering, pour a 2,100 s.f. concrete slab. There is no water/sewer component to the proposed construction.
Bid #4: Erect a 1,800 s.f. metal building (30’ x 60’) with a 300 s.f. overhang (10’ x 30’). Plans for height elevations are available to bidding contractors.
Bid #5: Electrical package. Lighting needs include overhead lighting, wall outlets, and power for an HVAC system.
Bid #6: Installation of an industrial, ducted HVAC system sufficient to cool a 1,800 industrial space.
Contractors interested in bidding should request a bid packet from our administrative office at burtonbridgeministry@gmail.com or 979-337-3370.
Received bids will be evaluated during an upcoming Board of Directors meeting.
We are grateful to those who are serving on our building subcommittee:
Mickie Angerame
Heather Blakey
Barbara Donnelly
Bev Houston
Jerry Martin
Paul McLaughlin
Gary Rothermel
Susie Tommaney
Tom Whitesides
On Tuesday, February 21 from 9:30-11:30 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. Call 979-337-3370 for details.
Job-seekers can come to our office at 601 North Main and borrow a computer to create a resume, look for a job, or gain training through workintexas.com. We have a dedicated printer for printing cover letters and resumes.
Our business center is available when our administrative office is open.
Burton Bridge Ministry has been working toward getting a man into decent living conditions. His trailer was just not habitable, with a missing front door, a tree laying heavy on its roof, and most plumbing shut down due to numerous leaks.
God is good and, with an army of volunteers and underwriters, we’ve surveyed and cleared his adjacent lot and moved in a replacement trailer. Electrical work and plumbing infrastructure are now complete. We’re really trying to finish this project so that he can move in; please see our wish lists below.
Construction/Home Furnishing Needs:
• Small 40-gallon electric water heater (110 or 220 amp), no taller than 58”
• Electric stove/oven, maximum width is 37” and maximum depth is 26”
• A smoke detector
• Material that can be used for skirting around the base of the home
Labor Needs:
We’re still looking for help to build a back deck, install protective awnings, and add skirting to the manufactured home. There’s also a huge clean-up when he moves out of his old trailer, which must be scrapped for metal and then hauled away.
Financial Needs:
We’ve received generous donations from individuals and churches, and Burton Bridge Ministry already has pledged $5,500 to this mission. Thank you! Costs were also higher than expected, as we had to take down large trees and rent dumpsters. Please consider making your tax-deductible financial donation to help this man move into decent housing.
If you can help, contact us at 979-337-3370 or burtonbridgeministry@gmail.com.
The Farm Bill is a multiyear federal law that governs agricultural and food programs, including The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). This funding can assist the Brazos Valley Food Bank with its food supply, as well as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
If this subject touches your heart, please consider sending a letter to your representatives in Congress asking them to prioritize passing a Farm Bill that strengthens hunger fighting programs like TEFAP and SNAP in 2023. Or make your voice heard online by visiting https://secure.feedingtexas.org/a/prioritize-hungry-families.
During February we’re asking for donations of canned soup. Favorites include chicken noodle soup, tomato soup, and any of the cream-based flavors: cream of mushroom, chicken, celery, asparagus, bacon, and broccoli.
We’re also looking for donations of new socks for men, women, boys, girls and infants. Drop donations at 601 North Main on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., or Wednesdays from noon to 5 p.m.
For details, visit tacklehunger.org.
601 North Main • 979-337-3370
2023 Days and Hours of Operation:
Mondays 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Tuesdays 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Wednesdays Noon - 5 p.m.
We will be closed on major holidays.
601 North Main • 979-337-3370
Serving Washington County
2023 Days and Hours of Operation:
Mondays 10 a.m. - Noon
Tuesdays 10 a.m. - Noon
Wednesdays 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturdays 9 a.m. - Noon
We will be closed on major holidays.
Bethany Christian Church
Christway Temple
Full Gospel Baptist Church
First Baptist Burton
Greenvine Baptist Church
Greenvine Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Hollow Springs 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
307 North Brazos, Burton
Open 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursdays-Saturdays
979-289-2223
Facebook.com/burtoncornershoppe
February 2-4: 1/2 off clothes and jewelry
February 9-11: 1/2 off shoes, purses and Valentine’s items
February 16-18: 1/2 off glassware, fabric, craft items and crochet thread
February 23-25: 1/2 off toys, linens and decorative pillows
.