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04/21/2017 09:25 AMIn the days since Branford waitress Keri Marie Carlson shared news of receiving a $500 from a customer to help replace her failing hearing aid, the story has gone viral and brought calls for reservations from customers who want to meet Carlson and show their support.
Restaurant owner Jim Kirtopoulos said the story was originally shared with Branford Seven blog. It was then picked up by WTNH News8 and went viral. Carlson was given the generous sum on April 10 after mentioning to a customer her hearing aid wasn't functioning. Kirtopoulos said the generosity shown to Carlson came from an individual passing through town who had stopped at GW Carson's for lunch.
"It's just such a nice story," said Kirtopoulos. "You don't see that happen very often."
Carlson, who hears with the assistance of two hearing aids, hadn't even told her co-workers that she needed help with one of them, said Kirtopoulos.
"We didn't know anything about her hearing aid not functioning," he said.
Now, to honor Carlson and help others, the upscale burger bar is showing its support by contributing the entire $20 sum of all restaurant T-shirt sales to the American Society for Deaf Children. Meanwhile, the business at 308 East Main Street in Branford continues to field calls about the waitress with the good news story to share.
"I've heard from my floor manager people are calling and asking to make reservations for her shifts," said Kirtopoulos.
The story broke on April 18, when WTNH News8 interviewed Carlson and posted a video clip that's gone viral (see at it here ).
For Carlson, sharing the news was the best way she felt she could thank a complete stranger for such an act of kindness, said Kirtopoulos.
"They're not regular customers. These individuals were from out state, driving back to New York, and stopped for lunch," said Kirtopoulus.