Farmingdale Students To Write Cards For 'Heroes' Who Helped After Bus Crash

FARMINGDALE, NY — The Farmingdale School District plans to give back to everyone who helped in the wake of the marching band bus crash tragedy in September.

The district is planning a series of events during Thanksgiving season to celebrate and applaud those who supported the school community at its time of need, Superintendent Paul Defendini told the community in a letter obtained by Patch.

The Farmingdale community was rocked when a bus carrying part of the high school marching band crashed in Orange County on Sept. 21. The bus was headed for the school's annual band camp in Greeley, Pennsylvania, when it crashed and tumbled down a 50-foot ravine.

The crash injured dozens of students and killed the school’s band director, Gina Pellettiere, 43, and retired teacher, Beatrice "Bea" Ferrari, 77, of Farmingdale. Pellettiere, a Massapequa resident, was the single mother of a 2-year-old boy, Joseph.

The entire community mourned the losses of Pellettiere and Ferrari while supporting their families, as well as the students who suffered physical and emotional wounds in the crash.

Businesses and people in the community rallied together to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for those impacted by the bus crash.

The district plans to travel across New York state over the next few weeks to thank everyone who showed support in the immediate aftermath of the bus crash and in the weeks that followed, according to Defendini.

"This list of those to whom we owe a debt of gratitude is extensive and includes first responders, hospital workers, mental health professionals, and our very own Daler Community," Defendini said.

There are more than 50 groups and thousands of individuals, Defendini said, who helped the Farmingdale community recover.

Students from across the district will be writing cards thanking "all of our heroes and packaging them in homemade Daler boxes," the superintendent said.

"We will be delivering them far and wide ensuring that all of our heroes know how special they are to us while setting an example for what it means to be a Daler."

The district is "extremely grateful for the overwhelming amount of financial donations and caring messages" it received from across the country since the bus crash, Defendini wrote.

The schools, acting as the custodians of the donations, continue to receive donations on a daily basis as fundraisers are still taking place both locally and regionally, Defendini said.

The district, Defendini said, has honored every request from donors about ensuring the money would go where the donors intended.

"Please know that the collection of funds and the accounting process is no easy task as we must ensure that we honor the wishes of our generous benefactors," he said.

The first round of checks will be sent out early next week, according to the superintendent. As money comes in, checks will continue to be issued, he added.

"We thank everyone for their generous donation and incredible support as we all get through this together!"

Related:

• Thank You, 'Ms. P': Honoring The Music Teacher And Her Impact On Us
• Gina Pellettiere's Rise To Farmingdale Band Director
• Remembering Gina Pellettiere: Farmingdale Band Students Share Memories
• Farmingdale HS Marching Band Performs 2 Weeks After Tragic Bus Crash
• 'Life Of The Party': Beloved Farmingdale Music Teacher Laid To Rest
• 'The Most Beautiful Soul': Farmingdale's Bea Ferrari Mourned
• Eat Pizza, Help Farmingdale Marching Band: 100 LI Pizzerias Join Cause
• McDonald's To Donate To Farmingdale HS Marching Band
• Girl Critically Injured In Farmingdale HS Bus Crash Walking On Her Own
• Nearly $3K More Raised For 'Ms. P's' Son At 2nd Farmingdale Fundraiser
• Fundraisers For 'Ms. P's' Son, Farmingdale Students Hurt In Bus Crash
• Adventureland To Host Farmingdale Marching Band At Park For Free
• Step By Step Dance Studio Of Farmingdale Raises $2,450 For 2 Causes
• LI Students Critically Injured In Bus Crash In 'Less Critical Care'