As many of you may know, our dear buddy Owen Laine was run over by a truck on April 25th 2024. Shortly after concluding his three-month stint in a cast from ankle surgery, Owen was in a motorcycle accident on his way home from work. On the corner of 16th and Gurrero, Owen fell off his motorcycle and slid under a truck that was pulling away from the intersection. His protective gear was no match for the truck as it drove over his abdomen. The impact partially collapsed his lung, broke his left shoulder blade, fractured his pelvis, ruptured his bladder and caused minor brain bleeding. Fortunately, after multiple surgeries and a week in the hospital, he is alive and recovering with the same spirit and humor we've come to expect of him, but his road to recovery is just beginning.

As the owner of a small business who relies on his mind and body to support himself, the accident has had a huge financial impact on his life.

Owen has been trying to figure out a way to get back to work in order to keep up with the financial demands of running a woodshop. But that is NOT what his body needs right now, the physical nature of his work poses a large impediment to a healthy recovery. In order to make a full recovery, Owen should rest, heal, and prioritize his health.

Owen needs our financial support. The fundraising goal of $35,000 will help Owen pay shop rent and the innumerable other costs associated with running a business while he focuses on repairing his damaged body.

Owen has shared the heart-centered craftsmanship he learned from his father with the whole community. He has built tables for the Oakland Art Museum and benches for SF MOMA. He helped Joe Joe Martin bring the Koi Pond to life by building a Japanese bridge and he built the entry gate to the Burning Man Temple. Throughout all the years we have been his friend, Owen has shown up, helped us all learn new skills, and built us things. He taught Brass Tax the game of Dunk-a-Roo, caroused on many an adventure with the Garage Mahal art car, shared his wine-making talents, and brightened our lives with his infectious laughter and ridiculous sense of humor.

Now we are calling on our whole community to ensure that Owen has the time he needs to recover and return to the work he loves. Please join us in supporting Owen's journey by donating today. Your contribution, no matter the size, will make an impact and help alleviate the financial burden this accident created. Together as a community, we can support Owen on his way to regaining his health and spirit.