'Winter Texans' help shape Mexico's future

INDIANOLA -- A group of poor children in Mexico has a future off the streets because of "Winter Texans" with hearts as big as the state.

Don and Suzie Burton of Bartley are Nebraskans who spend their winter months in Texas, not because they don't like Nebraska's cold winters. "I like cold weather," Don insists. "We're down there because we like what we can do for the children."

Snowbirds like the Burtons and their contacts up North are the sole support for "Children's Haven International," a residential home for the children of indigent parents in the border town of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

The haven is supported 99 percent by Winter Texans, Don told fellow members of the Indianola Rotary Club recently. The haven operates completely with contributions, with no help from the Mexican government.

Supporters donate clothing, furniture and appliances; someone recently donated three computers.

Supporters have "purchased" four busses for the haven, collecting 1,500,000 Campbell's soup can labels for each 14-passenger van. Don said the freight on 1.5 million coupons is $650.

Supporters can "sponsor" or "co-sponsor" children, with any amount from $25 to $200 a month. Sponsorship money goes directly to the child's house parents, who then purchase needed clothing and pay for education costs.

Four years ago, the Burtons started a fund-raising project for the haven through the Indianola Rotary Club. Club members raised $1,000, and with matching donations from Minnesota and Mexico Rotarians and from district and international Rotary organizations, the donation grew to $16,000 -- enough to purchase new playground equipment, cement, sod, a gazebo and electrical lights.

Haven children, officials and volunteers dedicated the new playground in April.

About 50 children live at the haven full-time. "You can pick as many children as you want to off the streets," Don said, "but the haven has chosen to concentrate on a quality education for fewer children."

The haven's children attend school at the haven through eighth grade; a few go on to high school, in Reynosa, and others dream of college.

"They're hungry for education," Don told fellow Rotarians. During the haven's 30 years, Burton said he knows of only one or two children who have run away. "These children's first lessons in life are how to survive on the streets," Don said. "They're so much better off here than on the streets."

Don told the Rotarians if he could speak to Mexico's leaders, he would impress upon them the importance of a good education for their country's children. Education should be the country's priority, Don said.

The education and spiritual guidance given so unconditionally at the haven are providing poor children of Reynosa a home off the street, and a bright future. The children, in return, may shape a brighter future for their country.

"Our children will be the leaders in Mexico," Don said. "I have no doubt about it."