Beekeeper, chef, deer processor, gun safety educator, historian, sound engineer and community volunteer — these are the many hats Chris Litton wears and are among the reasons so many people are rallying around him.

Litton, a retired logistics and safety coordinator for the city of Orange Beach, found out he needs a major surgery to remove a brain tumor but that it's not covered by medical insurance. When he confided in a few friends about his medical challenges and cost concerns, they sprang into action.

Over the last two months, Gulf Gun and Pawn in Foley organized a gun raffle. Winners were drawn July 7. Owner John Yaeger said he has known Litton for many years.

"He is a gun enthusiast, and we have just become friends," Yaeger said. "He has been very helpful to us. He is so knowledgeable with guns and stuff, so he has been one of our go-to when we have questions and he always has a quick answer for us."

Gulf Gun and Pawn had five guns available for raffle, all donated by friends. Yaeger said he had so many calls from people wanting to donate he had to stop accepting and asked them to buy tickets instead. In all, Yaeger said they sold between 280 and 300 tickets and raised around $7,000.

"He has always been a genuine guy to me, and I wanted to help out in some way. I saw the look on his face, and I just thought it could be helpful. I had no idea what it would turn into or what to expect, but I am happy with the outcome for him," Yaeger said. "He has been in here three different times tearing up at being overwhelmed with gratitude for everybody stepping up. Most of the people that bought tickets I didn't even know. Chris has touched their lives in the past, and that is why they bought tickets. To help him."

Ready Arm Defend in Orange Beach is also holding raffle, with the winning ticket to be drawn July 31. Tickets are still available for purchase in store and on their website, www.readyarmdefend.com, at $20 each, and the winner will receive a Kimber R7 Mako handgun.

On Thursday, July 13, the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach and Four A Change organized a benefit. The event featured music, dancing, raffles and a strong sense of community. Katrina Anderson, wedding and event coordinator at the Coastal Arts Center helped put on the event. Anderson and Four A Change are old friends of Litton.

"The event was amazing," Anderson gushed. "It was standing room only, and we raised twice what we anticipated. My heart is just overjoyed. The final count isn't in yet, but it did my heart so much good to hand him and Tracey an envelope just overflowing with cash and checks and say this is just our little bit to help."

Anderson said they set up 120 chairs for the event and ended up setting out 20 more with people standing along the walls all evening.

Litton said they received about $7,000 from the event.

"He is a good person. The outpouring of love for them last night, we were supposed to be done at 8 p.m., and it lasted until 9 p.m. and everyone stayed," Anderson said. "There was so much energy in the room that there was no stopping it at that point."

Litton said he has been getting calls about fundraisers he didn't know about. Over the weekend the Meat Mart in Orange Beach called him to let him know about their fundraiser. The Meat Mart raffle was first announced on their Facebook page June 29, and the winner was selected Saturday, July 15. The winner, Sandy Garren, won a whole USDA Certified Angus Prime Beef Eye Loin. The raffle netted $902.

Along with the businesses holding raffles, Renee Smith with the City of Orange Beach started a Go Fund Me for the Litton family. It has been posted online, on various business Facebook pages and the electronic signs throughout the city.

To say Litton has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support would be an understatement. He is a man of service to others, so having the tables turned has been an adjustment.

"Here is what it meant to me even if we come out of this thing totally penniless, if it costs us that much money, I will still be a richer man from knowing that many people stepped up to help out and actually cared," Litton said. "Honestly, it ain't about money anymore. It never really was. Sure, it was to help defer the cost of the surgery, but knowing that many folks were there that cared and came out and stepped up it was something to behold."

Litton, his wife, Tracey, and daughter, Savannah, will travel to Atlanta in mid-August for the surgery. He said he is confident in his medical team and knows the recovery will be long, but his faith is never wavering.

For the last two months, Litton has continued to go about his normal-to-him life, robbing bees of honey and making beef jerky for thank-you gifts, finishing repairs to guns for friends, building an apiary at Alligator Alley and running sound at church when he can. Not even a brain tumor can slow the man down.

"It was about friendships, folks caring for folks and community. It was humbling, and it took an awful lot of effort not to lose it," Litton said about the benefit concert. "That is the kind of stuff that is going to get me through all of this."