SANDPOINT — Members of the community are invited to attend a fundraiser for Eric Scott, a long-time server in Sandpoint, who was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, on Sunday.

The fundraiser will be held at Connie’s Cafe and was organized by one of the bar managers, Ashli Thompson. She was close with Scott and his wife, Clarenda Fazio, who were regulars at the cafe; as soon as she heard about Scott’s diagnosis, Thompson said she knew she had to do something. 

“We have been lightly a part of, Eric's journey, which started last summer with just not feeling well,” Thompson said. “I talked to Claire while they were still in the hospital getting the diagnosis, and I told her, right then and there, we need to do a fundraiser for you.” 

The event runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the lounge and costs $10 to enter, all of which will go toward Scott and his family, Thompson said. Local band Micah Kohal, which Thompson said was chosen by Fazio, will be playing throughout the event. 

Scott was a long-time service worker in local restaurants, working stints at the Trinity at City Beach, Hydra Steakhouse and Second Avenue Pizza. Thompson said Scott is a true salt of the earth person, who battled to make ends meet and stay in Sandpoint. 

“During a time when a lot of the serving industry left the area because they couldn't afford to live here anymore, you know, Claire and Eric said ‘No,’” Thompson said. “They said, ‘We're going to stay; we're going to figure out how to make it here. This is our home; this is where our people are.’ And they did that.” 

Thompson said Scott’s effort and personality intertwined him with the community at every place he worked. 

“He is part of the fabric of the community,” Thompson said. “He's one of those guys that people would go to the Trinity and say, ‘I want Eric as my server.’” 

Connie’s Cafe puts on events frequently, which Thompson said made organizing the fundraiser relatively easy. The team assembled quickly to plan the event, and almost every member of the Connie’s team contributed. 

Alongside the band, the cafe will have a taco bar available and is set to host a silent auction. Thompson said they are still looking for items for the auction, and added residents can drop them off at the restaurant prior to Sunday. 

Thompson said 20% of the proceeds from the night will go toward Scott’s GoFundMe campaign page set up by Scott’s son, Dominic. So far, the campaign has raised over $5,800 for Scott and his family to use for medical expenses and bills which would allow Scott to focus on his treatment.  

“If you know my dad, you know he’s always been the funny one — the guy who can make people laugh even on their worst days, and he’s always there whenever someone needs him,” Dominic Scott wrote on the campaign page. “Now he needs us.” 

Thompson said the community’s response to the fundraiser has been overwhelmingly positive. 

“I just can't believe how many people from the community say that they want to be a part and they want to help,” Thompson said. “It's just, it's really nice to see.” 

The fundraiser for Scott begins at 6 p.m. at Connie’s Cafe, 323 Cedar St., and runs for three hours until 9 p.m. on Sunday. Donations can be made to the Scott family’s GoFundMe page at gofund.me/f9fe7dd3b.