BETHPAGE, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — Several residents on a block on Long Island, including a family grieving over the loss of two loved ones to COVID-19, are upset over anonymous letters they received criticizing their Christmas lights.
The letter, with no return address, turned up in a number of mailboxes on Berkshire Road in Bethpage.
The note reads, "Take your Christmas lights down! Its Valentines Day!!!!!!" (sic)
Resident Sara Pascucci was shocked when she and a neighbor received the anonymous notes.
It's been a difficult two months for the 31-year-old, who has been grieving the loss of her father and her aunt, both of whom died from COVID-19.
After having to plan two funerals, she said the last thing she thought about was taking down the decorations.
Pascucci said her father put up the holiday decorations and lights on their home before he died in the middle of December. Christmas was his favorite holiday and Pascucci said when she looks at those decorations, she thinks of him and smiles.
"We didn't really find it funny, it actually was very hurtful. Just to kind of remind everyone to just be kind, especially during these times, because you don't know what anybody's really going through," Pascucci said. "It's also very hard to take something down that your father enjoyed and put up for your family."
WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported some neighbors were brought to tears when they heard about the anonymous letter and couldn't believe that someone could be so cruel, especially to someone who just lost two family members to COVID.
"It's terrible," one neighbor said. "With everything going on out there could you be a little nicer instead of dragging somebody down just because they left their Christmas lights up?"
Resident Brian Kelly received one of the letters. He still has Christmas lights up on his roof.
"Really? Lights? That's your biggest problem right now? Lights?" Kelly said. "Honestly, I just don't want to dig the ladder up to go on the roof. Most of the stuff is taken off."
Some neighbors said they will now get our their Christmas decorations and put them back up in support of their neighbors.
"I think the whole block should put them on, just for the people who are going through a really hard time," Kelly said.
Pascucci said she's grateful for the support.
"It made me feel a lot better so this letter is not even something that hurts anymore because of everyone's love and support," Pascucci said.
A GoFundMe page has also been created by family friends to help the Pascucci family pay for funeral costs and household expenses.
"Both deaths were so sudden, there was no time to plan for the future, both immediate and long term," a statement on the fundraiser read. "We understand many people are under financial hardships, but we would be forever grateful for any and all who might be able to help Sara, her baby and her brother."
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