From Panama to Promise CHC, Van Bruggen finds new way to serve


SIOUX CENTER – Jenna Van Bruggen has returned from two years of service in the Peace Corps in Panama and now has found a new way to serve people.

She has assumed the role of dental receptionist at Promise Community Health Center.

Jenna Van Bruggen recently returned from
serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Panama.
She now has found a new way to serve as a
bilingual dental receptionist at Promise
Community Health Center in Sioux Center.
“Promise, from what I see, is making an impact on the community. I wanted to join in making a positive impact here,” she said. “Promise offers services at an affordable rate. I’ve been impressed by Promise.”

Jenna grew up in rural Sheldon and graduated from Unity Christian High School in Orange City in 2012. She earned bachelor’s degrees in both biology and Spanish at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI, in 2016.

She then served two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Panama, living in an indigenous community near the Costa Rican border. She was there as an agricultural extensionist, but her second year of work was focused more on public health. She helped facilitate programs in the schools about reproductive health, especially HIV/AIDS.

After returning from Panama in September, Jenna wanted to find work where she could continue to make a difference. She also wanted to continue to use her Spanish and get to know the Hispanic community of northwest Iowa better.

The bilingual dental receptionist role at Promise CHC was the right fit.

“I see this as a fulfilling job,” Jenna said. “I hope that I can bring my positive attitude, organizational skills, a listening ear, compassion and friendship.”

Promise Community Health Center of Sioux Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center serving the northwest corner of Iowa. Promise provides medical, prenatal, dental, vision, behavioral health and family planning services. To learn more, visit www.promisechc.org and watch this video. To read more Promise news, visit promisechcnews.blogspot.com.


MORE ABOUT JENNA:
Jenna Van Bruggen lives in rural Sheldon. In her spare time, she enjoys baking and trying out new recipes; spending time with her cat, Luna Menguante, that she brought back from Panama; and helping out with tasks on her family's farm.

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