Connects with Club and Mental Health Advocates
The Rotary Club of Americus was thrilled to host DG Andre
Marria and her husband Walter who just happened to be celebrating their 50th
anniversary during the visit AND were serenaded by club members with a song led
by our music committee.
The club heard about DG Andre’s past, how she found her why,
and about her passion for removing the stigma of mental illness. Following the
meeting, they enjoyed a personal tour of Perry Wellness Center (PWC) and Rudy’s
Happy Patch by director and mental health advocate Stuart Perry. PWC provides peer-led
and peer-operated behavioral health services to individuals with mental illness
and substance abuse problems. As a service to their peers, the Happy Patch
Produce Market (an open-air market on the PWC campus specializing in locally
and seasonally grown produce, plants, and herbs) provides opportunities for
socialization and job readiness while providing a service to the community as
well.
The day ended with a joint dinner of the Americus and Cordele Rotary Clubs at the beautiful Windsor Hotel in downtown Americus.