Businesses Raising Funds For Those Impacted By Farmingdale HS Marching Band Bus Crash

FARMINGDALE, NY — The Farmingdale business community is rallying around those most impacted by the high school bus crash, which killed two and injured more than 40 others when the bus tumbled down a 50-foot ravine in Orange County on Sept. 21.

The bus was part of a convoy headed to the school's marching band's annual band camp in Greeley, Pennsylvania.

Gina Pellettiere, 43, of Massapequa, and Beatrice "Bea" Ferrari, 77, of Farmingdale, were killed in the crash. Pellettiere was the single mother of a 2-year-old boy, Joseph.

Five students were initially reported critically injured after the collision, but they are all expected to recover, according to state police. Still, those most injured in the crash have a long road to recovery ahead of them.

Several fundraising pages were made — one more Pellettiere's son and others for the injured students.

Businesses in and around Farmingdale have pledged to raise money to help those most impacted by the crash. Here is a list:

Name: Whiskey Down Diner x Uncle Joey's Rainbow Explosion
Address: Whiskey Down Diner: 252 Main St., Farmingdale; Uncle Joey's: 451 Main St., Farmingdale
Offer: Whiskey Down Diner collaborated with Uncle Joey's Rainbow Explosion to make the diner's October Shake of the Month "DALERS PRIDE." The shake features green and white rainbow cookies from Uncle Joey's.
Where the money's going: The GoFundMe page for families of the victims of the bus crash.

Name: Lithology Brewing Co.
Address: 211A Main St., Farmingdale
Offer: A portion of sales from Lithology's #DalerStrong Ale will be donated.
Where the money's going: The GoFundMe page for Joseph Pellettiere.

Name: Croxley's Ale House
Address: 190 Main St., Farmingdale
Offer: A fundraiser for the Farmingdale High School band will be held in the pub's private room, The Garden at Croxley's Farmingdale, at 6 p.m. Oct. 12. Tickets, $50 each, need to be purchased in advance. Open bar, food, entertainment, raffles and prizes all in a private room. "We hope to see you there!" the restaurant wrote.
Where the money's going: Croxley's will be donating the money to the high school, which will divide the funds three ways: the band program, the students who were injured and their families, and Gina Pellettiere's son, Joseph.

Name: Nicolette's For The Home
Address: 1040 N. Broadway, Massapequa.
Offer: $5 raffle to raise money for all those affected by the bus tragedy; donating two gift cards.
Where the money's going: "We’re going to donate it to the affected students and families," said co-owner Liz Walsh.

Name: Bagel Boss
Address: 16 locations
Offer: The "Daler Bagel," a bagel with green, black and white hues. The fundraising initiative is set to span approximately one week.
Where the money's going: "Every single penny raised from the sale of these special bagels will go directly to Farmingdale High School," Bagel Boss wrote on Facebook.

Name: Vico
Address: 313 Main St., Farmingdale
Offer: Oct. 24 through Oct. 31, Vico will be selling traditional New York 18-inch pizza pies for $14.95, and $5 of every pie will go toward those impacted by the bus crash.
Where the money's going: The proceeds will be distributed to all families of those critically and non-critically injured, the families of Gina Pellettiere and Bea Ferrari, and the Farmingdale High School marching band. The deal is part of a larger fundraiser being organized by Long Island Pizza Strong, though Vico is committing to offering the deal for a week, said co-owner Joe Fortuna.

Name: Flower Shop of Farmingdale
Address: 316 Main St., Farmingdale
Offer: Green and white bows and Daler Pride stickers.
Where the money's going: The GoFundMe page for Joseph Pellettiere.

Name: 317 Main Street
Address: 317 Main St., Farmingdale
Offer: The restaurant raised $1,180 on Sept. 23 while Mariano Schwartz played the piano for Gina Pellettiere's son.
Where the money's going: Joseph Pellettiere's education fund.

If you are a business owner who is raising money for anyone impacted by the Farmingdale High School marching band bus crash, please contact me at Michael.DeSantis@patch.com and I will update the story to reflect it. Please answer all the prompts formatted in the story.

Related:

• Gina Pellettiere's Rise To Farmingdale Band Director
• Remembering Gina Pellettiere: Farmingdale Band Students Share Memories
• 'Life Of The Party': Beloved Farmingdale Music Teacher Laid To Rest
• 'The Most Beautiful Soul': Farmingdale's Bea Ferrari Mourned
• Fundraisers For 'Ms. P's' Son, Farmingdale Students Hurt In Bus Crash
• LI Students Critically Injured In Bus Crash In 'Less Critical Care'