New community health van to hit the road, just awaiting a design concept

||| FROM JESSICA NYE for SJC HEALTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES |||

The Health & Community Services Department is getting a community wellness van that will allow us to take our public health services to our San Juan County community members where they live, work, and play! The Luci B Community Wellness Van will be used for immunization clinics, reproductive health counseling clinics, home- and community-visiting services, public health community outreach and education work, wellness and screening events, health and nutrition education events, public health emergency response efforts, dental clinics, and much, much more!

We have named our community wellness van after Lucinda Elizabeth Steward Boyce (1835-1916). Lucinda Boyce served as a community leader on San Juan Island and as a role model for hundreds of women who braved the strenuous conditions of the island’s early settlement years. She arrived on San Juan Island in 1860 and served as a compassionate nurse and midwife, delivering more than 500 babies and venturing out in any weather (and to outer islands!) to care for the sick and injured. Endurance, ingenuity, and a rugged physical and mental disposition were necessary for settler women to survive in the early days—but Lucinda didn’t just endure, she thrived. She stepped up and took on the roles of doctor, nurse, and midwife. Lucinda administered care to all who needed it, responding to medical calls any time of the night or day—regardless of the distance or weather.

She would ride horseback or drive a buggy over harsh terrain, paddle a canoe or take a rowboat to Orcas, Shaw, Stuart, or Waldron. Lucinda was known for her kindness and compassion to all. We’ve chosen to name our new community wellness van “Luci B” in honor of Lucinda Boyce. We believe our team of public health staff carry on Lucinda’s mission and embody her determination, indomitable spirit, warmth, joy of living, and kindness for all persons—working to overcome all obstacles and promote wellness for those living in the San Juan Islands.

As you can see from the photo, our van does not have a design on the outside yet… Help us come up with a design concept for Luci B! Design concept contest entries will be accepted Monday, July 25, 2022 through Saturday, August 20, 2022 at 5 p.m. Please see our official design concept contest entry form for more details and information on how to submit your entry.

If you have any questions, please contact us by emailing LuciBWellnessVan@sanjuanco.com or calling 360-774-9350. All San Juan County residents are invited to apply. Children under the age of 18 must have parent permission to submit a contest entry. The winner of the design concept contest will be announced on or after Friday, August 26, 2022 and will be recognized for their contribution to the new community wellness van project.

You will find ongoing information about this project by visiting the Community Health Services webpage HERE. https://www.sanjuanco.com/418/Community-Health-Services. You may download the official design concept contest entry form on our website here.

About San Juan County’s Department of Health and Community Services

San Juan County’s Department of Health and Community Services is responsible for community and environmental health, mental health and substance abuse programs, senior services, affordable housing projects, and more. The department has staff and offices on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Islands. For more information about San Juan County’s Department of Health & Community Services, visit www.sanjuanco.com/1777/Health-Community-Services.