Last weekend, Rudy’s Happy Patch Market sent its popular Mobile Market to downtown Buena Vista once again. When the colorful trailer parked near the intersection of Broad Street and Sixth Avenue, it soon attracted many visitors, who stopped by to browse for plants.

Even though the sky was overcast and threatening rain, activity was brisk on the downtown corner. Perry Wellness Center staff and Marion County resident Mulkey McMichael noted the prime location in which the Mobile Market was parked. In addition to campaigners, the intersection was bustling with transport trucks on the busy route west to Columbus and east to Corridor Z connectors.

“I see the reason for selection of this corner for the placement of the first Perry Service Station,” Mulkey noted. “Location, location, location!”

In addition to shoppers, representatives from several political campaigns were in the area to talk with area citizens on the last weekend before the Georgia primary was held. One candidate, Marc Arnett, took time to walk around the busy town square with a group of volunteers, in order to request support in the upcoming election. When he stopped by the Mobile Market, he was given information about Perry Wellness Center and encouraged to remember the award-winning Georgia mental health provider if elected to the Georgia State House.

Once again, our tiny Mobile Market became a vehicle (pun intended) for grassroots mental health advocacy.