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01/24/2017 08:03 AMIn less than one week's time, an overwhelming response from Guilford community members has generated some $6,500 to help 16 year-old Alex Russello, who is legally blind, meet his goal of $15,000 for a pair of hi-tech Esight glasses.
"Alex's eSight glasses are fully funded and have been ordered, thanks to his friends, and the amazing community we live in," said mom, Dawn Russello.
Alex has been working on raising the funds since first testing out a pair of Esight glasses this summer. The hi-tech eyewear creates 20/80 vision for Alex, who has 20/600 vision due a rare condition, optic atrophy.
In the ensuing months, family, friends and many members of the community began rallying to help Alex reach a needed goal of $15,000 to fund the life-changing tech. After raising nearly $8,000 by the beginning of January, friends, family and community members rallied to push for the final funds needed to help (see the story here)
Together with donations which poured into Alex's fundraising page www.giving.esighteyewear.com/alexander-russello following news of the effort, a grassroots group of concerned citizens met the family last week and helped to organize and promote a collection drive outside of The Marketplace, 77 Whitfield St., on Saturday Jan. 21.
His mom thanks his friends and the Guilford community for all of their support, including coming out to contribute on Jan. 21 or for otherwise taking the time to learn of Alex's story and make a donation.
"The people in this town are truly amazing," she said.