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As of closing Thursday, the event had raised $1,025 for the Farrells.
That was the total when sales were tallied — Shortrounds donated 10 percent – and the dollars in the donation bucket on the counter were counted, according to Owner Dan Hivry.
Farrell, a father of two girls who suffered a brain aneurysm in June, can no longer work.
In honor of his loyal customer, Hivry ran a “Gerry Special” — Chicken Parm Hero with French Fries.
It's Farrell’s favorite meal.
“We lost track of how many ‘Gerry Specials’ we sold, but I would say at least 60,” Hivry said.
“We even stayed open a half hour later to help customers who had been waiting.”
To everyone’s surprise, CBS arrived, too, and filmed a segment on how Emerson pulled together to help one of its own.
“It’s a community were no fallen man is left behind,” Donna Diebner of Emerson told the network.
Christa Farrell was brimming with emotion at the support shown for her husband.
“The Farrell family offers many thanks to Shortrounds Deli and the Emerson community for all their kindness and generosity,” she said.
“Thank you to the event organizer, Renee Adams. We are very grateful to be surrounded by such love and support."
The money raised at the deli fundraiser – and that raised in a GoFundMe campaign, also organized by Adams – goes toward Farrell’s formidable medical bills.
He is now in an in-patient rehabilitation program indefinitely, according to the GoFundMe page.
Hivry said the deli was happy to do its small part.
“People keep putting money in the donation jar,” he said, “so we will keep it out for the rest of this week.”
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