PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Three-year-old Tony Maschino is too sick to go to the Bright Nights light displays at Forest Park in Springfield.

 

So Pittsfield brought "Bright Lights" to him.

 

On Wednesday, between 50 and 60 volunteers helped set up a massive display of inflatable Christmas decorations in the family's yard. Maschino was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer some six weeks ago and this effort is just the latest in community-driven support for the family.

 

"We deem it now 'Bright Lights.' I talked to Stephanie [Maschino] and they are absolutely ecstatic because they didn't get to make it to Bright Nights in Springfield because he wasn't feeling well. So this is their Bright Nights night," said Police Officer Darren Derby, who headed the effort.

 

Derby said he wanted to do something special for the family and this idea quickly took off. Within just 36 hours, more than 80 inflatables were donated or loaned to make it happen — including local businesses Carr Hardware, Home Depot, and Walmart providing floor-model displays. Other local businesses went out and purchased decorations to give to the family. And a number of residents pitched in by donating or loaning their decorations as well. 

 

"It has been a whirlwind 36 hours here. We had somewhere around the 50 mark for volunteers. I reached out to Papa John's and they are donating pizzas for the volunteers. It's pretty cool," Derby said.

 

Pittsfield Fire Department joined in the effort — it was a combined effort between "team blue and team red" as Derby put it — by sending more than 30 firefighters to the home to set up the display and bring in generators and extension cords as needed. 

 

In total more than 80 pieces were inflated and placed on the lawn and across the street, creating a winter wonderland for the toddler.

 

Derby said the lights were to remain on for hours Wednesday night and at the end of the evening, the volunteers will take them down. The ones on loan will go back to their owners but the donated ones will stay with the family. 

 

The display is just the latest is a series of community-efforts to support the Maschinos. On Tuesday, Pittsfield Fire made Tony an honorary firefighter and delivered him his own turnout gear. Before that, police officers visited to give him a ride on a motorcycle. And last weekend, a massive benefit was held at the Tavern at the A. Concurrently, there have been a series of fundraisers.

 

"It is absolutely remarkable what the community will do when all you have to do is ask someone. There are so many people out there that want to do something for somebody but don't know how. They want to feel apart of the family; they want the family to know that the community is behind them," Derby said.