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Head into Victoria and find 1428 6th Street. There you’ll arrive at the Lunenburg Health Service (LHS). For nearly 80 years, the group’s mission has remained the same. 

LHS works alongside family physicians to provide at-home care, administer medication, loan medical equipment, and much more, all free of charge for Lunenburg residents. And while many of the group’s patients are seniors or homebound, that doesn’t mean other residents are restricted from using the service. 

“If you are a citizen of Lunenburg County, please take advantage of this resource,” LHS board president Natasha Gill says. 

Director of Nursing Services, Nurse Deborah Craven, has been with LHS for 25 years. In 2024 alone, she visited 2,700 patients at home and treated 300 in office. Health services ranged from blood pressure and vital readings to wound care and injections. All of which were provided at no cost to patients. Since its inception, LHS has only ever had one nurse on staff. Today, Deborah is joined by office manager Shirley Gaulding and a board of directors made entirely of Lunenburg residents. 

“My grandfather was on the board for years,” Gill said. “This organization really touched his heart. I don’t know how many people in our county know about [LHS].”  

When the time came for her grandfather to step down, Gill joined the board, continuing a tradition of Lunenburg residents serving their community. 

Last week, we reported on the annual Meridian donation and how it would be divided. One of the groups included in the planning commission’s recommendation was LHS. We received questions from people asking what that was, so it seemed like a good time for those involved with the program to talk about it. 

‘A friendly ear’ 

Nurse Craven drives thousands of miles each year, visiting patients in their homes, taking those without access to transportation to doctors’ appointments, and providing care to patients in rural areas. Services include monthly injections, monitoring medications, assisting the critically and chronically ill, changing dressings, diabetic care, and assisting patients returning from the hospital. Most importantly, she provides a friendly ear to patients who have questions or simply want someone to talk to.

For patients who have a primary care physician but cannot visit for any reason, LHS will work alongside clients’ physicians to continue care as prescribed. Currently, Lunenburg Health Service is the only tax-exempt non-profit of its kind in Virginia.

Outside of one-on-one care, LHS has a lending room with medical equipment, including wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes, porto-lifts, and bedside tables. If LHS does not have the equipment a patient needs, patients will be redirected to the appropriate social services department.

“We would like people to take advantage of our services,” says Gill, “it doesn’t have to be a permanent illness; it could be something small–wound care, check vitals–call us and we’ll help you out.” 

LHS doesn’t have grand aspirations to profit. Those involved say the group’s only goal is to continue providing these resources to its community and get the word out to anyone who might benefit.

A history of the Lunenburg Health Service

The organization operates entirely on donations. In 1947, Victoria businessman Robert Miles Williams donated the initial funds to establish the public, non-profit health service facility. Since then, LHS has received generous contributions from patients and local benefactors. LHS does not receive any government funding and is not connected with state and county health departments. 

Williams had a dream that all Lunenburg County residents, regardless of their ability to pay, would be able to get proper healthcare services when needed. He didn’t want anyone to ‘fall through the cracks’, group members say. It took two years after getting organized in 1947 for the project to be launched. That became known as “Lunenburg Day”, held on May 20, 1949. An estimated 2,000 Lunenburg residents, along with officials from the University of Virginia and the Virginia General Assembly, were on hand to dedicate the public health service’s building on 6th Street in Victoria. 

It was given to the county under terms of a $200,000 foundation created by Williams. The project was cited as one of the first of its kind in the country that provided free supplemental healthcare to people unable to pay as well as to those who could pay.

An annual fund drive is held each October to collect donations from local businesses, organizations, and individuals who are able to give back to their community. Medical equipment to loan is also donated by citizens, as are single-use medical supplies such as adult diapers.

To learn more about donating to Lunenburg Health Service, visit lunenburghealthservice.com.

How can I sign up for help? 

Citizens in Lunenburg County who don’t have access to physicians, are homebound, or simply need care can schedule an appointment by calling the LHS office at (434)696-4446 or stop by their location at 1428 6th Street in Victoria.

Editor’s note: Essie Somma wrote this story for the Kenbridge-Victoria Dispatch.