A Time of Need for Someone Who Gives Tirelessly

You know how you seldom realize how much you use and appreciate, say, electricity, until suddenly you have to do without for awhile? Our dear friend and colleague Shari Anker is facing a somewhat analogous but more profoundly impactful dilemma. Shari broke both of her wrists in a fall outside her home in late July. As a result, she’s forced to do without the use of both arms and hands right now, which as you can imagine leaves one unable to do just about anything without assistance.

Shari was in the hospital for a couple weeks and had surgery August 3 to repair the fractures. She now is undergoing at least 6 to 8 weeks of being mostly incapacitated during the initial recovery, followed by more weeks of physical therapy to regain function. Shari needs a lot of assistance, and she must pay for private home aides, as well as additional medical costs incurred by this unfortunate setback.

A bit of background about Shari: In the 1990s while teaching sociology courses at Broward College she created a forward-thinking course, "Society & the Environment." She was forced to interrupt her teaching career and her Ph.D. program in Environmental Studies due to developing severe environmental illness. That lived experience as a "canary in the coal mine" further illustrated to her that what we do to the earth we truly do to ourselves.

Shari has spent countless hours since devoting her life to protecting and defending the environment. She has done much of that tireless work at the helm of the Conservation Alliance of Saint Lucie County, where as president she brings issues needing our involvement to the forefront, inspires and interfaces with the board and with other conservation groups and leaders, attends events, arranges speakers for monthly meetings, and so much more. Anyone who knows Shari knows the passion she infuses in all that she undertakes. In 2014 she was honored to receive the Permelia Pryor Reed Award for Environmental Excellence, delivered by Nathaniel P. Reed.

Shari really needs our help. We so appreciate that we have this opportunity to give back in a time of great need to someone who selflessly gives. It is humbling to ask, but truly needed. All donations raised here go directly to Shari. (Because she is incapacitated, the page organizer, Sue Q, receives funds on Shari's behalf and securely transfers them to her.)

Please consider donating--any amount helps--and if a donation isn’t possible at this moment, please help by sharing this fundraiser--maybe someone you know could help! We will update this periodically as Shari's recovery needs warrant. Thank you for your caring and your help!

A side note: The payment processor that makes online donations possible charges a modest 2.9% which is deducted from your donation; this is the industry standard. The voluntary “tip” that this site requests is appreciated by GoFundMe, but completely optional; it goes to support GoFundMe’s fundraising tools, customer support, and team.