Support for Dean Ferris, a beloved Scarborough trash collector who was diagnosed with cancer in June, has not waned.

Ferris will be the beneficiary of a “Fight for Ferris” fundraiser event on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Throttle Car Club in Scarborough.

Dean Ferris, left, and William share a high five before Ferris resumes his trash collection route in Scarborough. A fundraiser to benefit Ferris as he battles cancer is set for Saturday. Catherine Bart photo

Matt Garrett of Scarborough, who is organizing the event, said he first met Ferris in 2020.

“I happened to be home on a Thursday that he was coming by,” Garrett told the Leader. “He stopped the truck and got out. I’m thinking, ‘I’m in trouble. What did I throw away that I wasn’t supposed to?'”

However, Ferris just wanted to know if Garrett’s son, “who was always plastered to the window whenever the trash truck drove by,” wanted a toy truck and if the family dog could have a treat.

During those early days of the pandemic, Garrett said, Ferris was one of the only people making a connection.

“He’d blow the horn when he goes by. He’d stop and chat and throw treats over the fence,” Garrett said. “It gave us something to look forward to … Everybody’s just so isolated, everywhere’s closed, there’s nothing to do and it really meant a lot to me for him to just go out of his way and be such a nice guy.”

Ferris’ kindness wasn’t just a highlight of Garrett’s week but for many of his customers. When news of his diagnosis reached the community earlier this summer, a trash can parade was held in his honor.

“When the people at Higgins Beach did a trash can parade for him after they found out about his cancer diagnosis, I said, ‘I really got to do something for him,'” Garrett said.

Garrett said he knew he couldn’t put together a fundraiser on his own but everywhere he asked for help, he got it, from the venue to hot dogs.

Gunner’s Icelandic Hot Dogs is donating $4 for every hot dog sold to the cause. Touch-a-truck, cornhole, a silent auction and 50-50 raffle are some activities to be held with some live music by Pat Foley and Toby McAllister & the Sierra Sounds.

All of the proceeds will go directly to Ferris, Garrett said, for medical and day-to-day expenses.

“I think he gave a lot of hope to a lot of kids and families when everybody was so stand-offish during COVID,” Garrett said. “With his community outreach efforts, he formed a little following and he gave a lot of people a lot of hope and insight.”

For more information on the Fight for Ferris fundraiser, go to the Throttle Car Club Facebook page and navigate to upcoming events.