As of today, there’s an orange Jeep driving around town again, emblazoned with colorful cartoon condom imagery, and its name is The Rubber Rover.

The dedicated folks driving the high-profile vehicle work for an organization called Diverse & Resilient, a local public health/support LGBTQ+ organization, and plan to distribute roughly 30,000 condoms this summer in a variety of Milwaukee neighborhoods and numerous public events.

"The Rubber Rover adds a fun and visible aspect to support condom usage and STD testing," says driver Kristen Ramirez, who is also the project and special events coordinator for Diverse & Resilient.

The Rubber Rover, the mobile extension of the organization's "414All" program, is stocked with 10-packs of condoms, called "Naughty Packs." Each condom is packaged in whimsical packaging with names like "Scuba Gear," "Papa Stopper" and "Pork Parka."

But although the appearance is playful, the mission is quite serious.

"We’re trying to reduce the stigma around condoms and getting tested for STDs among young people, particularly between the ages of 14 and 29," says Matthew Lewis, a program coordinator for Diverse & Resilient. "We want to make condoms more available, acceptable and accessible."

Swag is also available for free from the Rubber Rover, including this bright pink tank top with a "pepperoni condom" design.

The Rubber Rover parks primarily in zip codes with the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases but also attends events like the upcoming Center Street Daze on Saturday, Aug. 4. It launched during the Pride Parade in June and will be on the streets until the end of August at which time the leased vehicle will have the stickers removed and returned to the dealership.

The reactions, so far, have been overwhelmingly positive.

"We weren't sure how people would respond – it’s pretty in your face – but we actually haven’t received any negative feedback," says Ramirez. "And we’re not encouraging young people to have sex, but if they chose to do so, we want them be safe, know their options and also know we are not just here to hand out condoms, but to answer questions and provide support."

Here are some events this summer where you can find the Rubber Rover:

• Spring Art Walk: June 1  from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. 
• Artisan Market: June 4 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Pridefest: June 7 from 12 to 8 p.m. and June 8  from 11 a.m to 8 p.m.
• Pride Parade: June 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. 
• Hillside Family Resource Center Fair: June 14 from 2 to 6 p.m.
• Juneteenth: June 19 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday Funday Brady Street: June 23 from 12 to 4 p.m.
• Bay View Classic: June 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Various bars, restaurants and popular Milwaukee locations

OnMilwaukee recently took a spin in the Rover Rover to help out and find out more about the mission.