When no one shows up for boy’s birthday party, community comes to the rescue

No one showed up for 6-year-old Glenn Buratti’s birthday party.

His mother, Ashlee, had invited Glenn’s entire class over for a party. None of the 16 kids came.

Glenn, who has epilepsy and a mild form of autism, was so saddened by the guest-less party, that he refused to smile.

"To see the look on his face killed me inside," Ashlee told Local 6.

"I know this might be something silly to rant about, but my heart is breaking for my son," the 25-year-old Florida mom wrote in a post a community-run Facebook page. “He keeps asking ‘when will my friends get here?’”

Almost immediately after Ashlee shared the situation on Facebook, her local community sprang into action. People started dropping by — about 15 kids and 25 adults, many of them strangers — with gifts.

Glenn instantly warmed up to his new group of friends.

“One lady brought him a brand new bike,” Ashlee told the Osceola News-Gazette. “One guy brought his camera and spent most his time snapping pictures of our family, which he gave to us. It was just amazing. The people who came out were so awesome.”

Even the police got involved, orchestrating a flyover by the sheriff’s helicopter.

"One of our friends put him up on their shoulders and Glenn was smiling the whole time and waved. It was amazing," Ashlee told Local 6.

The deputies pooled their own money and purchased gifts for Glenn.

A few days later, Glenn received even more surprises: Sheriffs’ cars, police dogs and fire trucks all visit his family’s home — at the same time.

"We got to the stop sign by our house and Glenn was like, ‘The fire truck’s at our house!’" Ashlee recalled. “I said, ‘It’s okay, They’re there to tell you happy birthday.’”

Glenn’s father, John Buratti, expressed his thanks to everyone who made his son’s birthday a memorable one:

“Huge thank you to Osceola County Sheriff’s Department, Osceola County Fire Rescue and Frank who owns Koffee Kup for coming to our house today for my son Glenn’s Birthday,” John wrote on Facebook. “He had such a great time! I’m sure the neighbours were peeking out of their windows or taking cover. Such an amazing thing for our local law enforcement and fire fighters to do for us. Thank you to everyone involved.”

"The amazingness of everybody coming together for somebody they didn’t even know, a kid that didn’t have anybody come to his birthday party, it warmed my heart,” Ashlee told Local 6.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she told the News-Gazette. “I said to my mom, and maybe on Facebook, that if there was ever a time I could feel God’s work in our lives it was Sunday and Wednesday.”

Ashlee isn’t sure how she’ll top this year’s party for Glenn’s seventh birthday.