Help Farmer Scott's Surgery (OPFM)

I'm setting up a GoFundMe campaign to help our friend and Oak Park market farmer Scott Koster raise money to help offset the costs of a surgery he desperately needs.

A few months ago, at the height of market season, Scott fell off a loading dock and dislocated his shoulder. After an emergency room visit to stabilize his arm, as well as subsequent tests, he was told he needed surgery. But because peak market season is just about the worst time to be absent--and because he is the primary vendor at his booth at Oak Park Farmers’ Market (OPFM) and it makes a difference for both camaraderie and sales--he couldn't afford to schedule his surgery at that time.

Now that the season’s ending, I’d like to help him. 

Scott’s insurance has a roughly $7000 deductible and will likely not cover all of the costs associated with the surgery and extensive physical therapy afterward.

If you've been to market and talked to Scott, you can literally see the pain he's in each and every day. Those of us who frequent Geneva Lakes know that Scott and his family work really hard to deliver quality local food to all our families. They are proud farmers who have been at our market for many years.

Over the years, many of us have also witnessed, firsthand, Scott's own generosity. He always helps those with less do more. He greets us all with kindness and a smile even when things, in his own life, might not be going so well. I couldn't imagine the market without Scott or Geneva Lakes's long-cherished presence. I also know Scott is very much in need now.

In light of all this, I am trying to raise $15,000 to help cover the costly insurance deductible Scott has, to help with costs that come with the surgery itself, and to help provide funds to cover his physical therapy as he regains full function in his arm. In addition to this, Scott will need to hire extra workers to fill in during his recovery and will have to offset farm losses. So rest assured, this goal, if filled or exceeded, will go to needed use.

His surgery is scheduled for November.

If you'd also like to help out his farm in other ways, consider buying a CSA share for next year's market season (http://genevalakesproduce.com/cost-pickup/4519799) .  You can do this now! Every CSA share purchased not only gets you a crate you can load with any of Scott's food you want to eat each week, but also buying now helps Scott buy seed, repair farm equipment, purchase supplies needed to grow the crops, and other off-season work that goes into having a great harvest in 2019.

Every act of kindness in the way of a gift to Scott goes far. Sometimes we all need a little help from our friends. Scott has been a friend to so many of us; now I hope it's our time to give a little something back.

Visit Geneva Lakes at:  http://genevalakesproduce.com/