By LESLIE WILLIAMS-DENNIS
Chronicle Correspondent

Kent Lawson feels a sense of spiritual gratification every time he sees a smile at the Second Mile Community Dental Clinic.

Lawson, 53, has been practicing dentistry in Houston since 1980, and provides free dental services every other Tuesday at the Second Mile Mission Center at 504 FM 1092, Suite I in Stafford.

The faith-based nonprofit group is supported by 34 local church partners and provides food, clothing, health and financial assistance to 150,000 people each year in Fort Bend County.

Click the logo to find out how to make an online donation.Lawson, of Sugar Land, is currently the only dentist to work in the clinic. He said there is at least a monthlong waiting list for patients who request his services.

The ministry, initially founded by members of Sugar Creek Baptist Church in 1990, reduced its number of employees this summer from 16 paid staff to nine, and is relying on volunteers from the community to help it function at top capacity through the holiday season.

“We need volunteers to help us as counselors, we need volunteers to help us in the warehouse, volunteers to help with food,” said Jim Bridges, interim director at Second Mile.

Bridges, who has been leading the mission since Sept. 1, works at the center on a volunteer basis, and replaces the agency’s former executive director, Greg Stirman, who left after two years to pursue other endeavors.

The clinic, which also operates as a medical facility, has three volunteer physicians as well as a volunteer chiropractor.

Patients had to be cut back

Bridges said that the mission was serving an estimated 40 patients a week before budget restraints forced the organization to cut some of its paid medical and dental personnel.

Today, the clinic serves between 10 and 12 patients each week and gives appointments based on the availability of the professionals who volunteer.

In the past 2½ years, Lawson has provided both standard and critical dental care and said that volunteering with the mission has not decreased his ability to perform dentistry at his primary practice at 9660 Hillcroft St., Suite 555, in Houston.

Lawson said that the cost of a standard dental procedure can run as high as $3,000, and he finds that most patients who come to him are uninsured adults who are facing a rough financial time.

“A lot of the people that we have seen have not been to the dentist in many years,” Lawson said. “They have for various reasons neglected their oral health and so we end up doing a lot of extractions and replacements of missing teeth.”

Primary goals have been strained

Bridges said the ministry depends on contributions from individuals and churches to provide all of its services, however, a substantial increase in clients has put a strain on the mission’s primary goals.

“A lot of people have lost jobs so they need food, often they need clothing, furniture,” said Bridges, 71.

“It’s sort of a double-edge squeeze because the number of clients has grown but with the economy, donations which we depend on to operate are down.”

Bridges, a retired software entrepreneur and current Sugar Land resident, said the mission operates with an annual budget of more than $750,000 and is planning to serve 750 families through a Thanksgiving food drive at the Stafford Centre at 10505 Cash Road in Stafford, on Nov. 25.

“Each dollar donated to the mission provides approximately $15 worth of food,” Bridges said.

Those who are not able to contribute financially can make a difference by helping with various tasks within the organization, he said.

“What we’re trying to do is demonstrate the kind of love for people that Jesus had,” Bridges said. “It’s an incredible way to help people and witness to people.”

WANT TO HELP?

What: Second Mile Mission food drive
Where: 504 FM 1092, Suite I in Stafford
Details: Call 281-261-9199, ext. 289, or visit www.secondmile.org