Collection boxes have been placed in more than 100 locations throughout Berks, Chester, Montgomery and Lehigh counties.
Boyertown, PA —
In May 2018, Preston Dray dropped off 45 pounds of food at a Boyertown food pantry as part of a project at Pine Forge Elementary School.
“I wanted to help poor people,” Preston wrote in a note when he and his mother dropped off the boxes of food at the Boyertown Area Multi-Service Inc., 200 W. Spring St.
“Some kids do not get free breakfast in the summer-time,” wrote Preston.
Preston, 9, and his pregnant mother, Pamela V. Snyder, 31, of Douglass Township, drowned on July 11 in a flash flood on Pine Forge Road at the Manatawny Creek.
Lydia Messinger, executive director of the nonprofit agency, said Thursday she remembers the day they dropped off the food like it was yesterday.
“He was so sweet, and his mom was so proud of him,” Messinger said.
Inspired by Preston's selflessness, the Boyertown area community gathered Sunday in Boyertown Park to organize Preston's Pantry Project at the agency. Boxes have been placed in more than 100 locations throughout Berks, Chester, Montgomery and Lehigh counties.
The collection will continue until Aug. 17. The following day, the group plans to gather from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the agency to sort the food.
Brandon Foose, 35, New Hanover Township, a member of the committee organizing the pantry, said that when he learned what the Preston did the food pantry as an 8-year-old he was touched.
“I saw the letter he wrote about helping the poor,” Foose said. “It was so inspiring. I am hoping we can properly honor his memory.”
Foose said that he learned that about 10 people in the community had the same feeling.
“We got together and started the pantry,” Foose said. “We put together a flyer and approached businesses and communities.”
Foose put together more than 130 public locations where the boxes are placed.
Heather Stehman, 39, of Douglass Township, Montgomery County, said the group wanted to continue the project Preston started.
“Preston's goal was to help the less fortunate,” said Stehman, a mother of a 12-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son. “There has been overall support from the community. We hope this project helps people who need food.”
Lindsey Mason, 36, of Boyertown said the community is united to remember the family.
“It's devasting,” Mason said. “Pam was such a bright light. We call this Preston's Pantry but this is really for all three family members: Pam; her unborn child, Evelynn; and Preston. If we all acted the way Preston did, our world would be a better place.”
On Monday morning, a display of rocks with hearts and kind words in memory of Preston was found in front of a flowerpot outside the agency.
The artist who decorated the rocks is unknown. Throughout the week, mourners stopped by to pick up the rocks to help them cope with the loss of loved ones in the community.
“It was a nice way to remember Preston and his family,” Messinger said. “Preston and his mother were really helping people in the community.”
How to help
What: Boyertown area community organizes the Preston' Pantry Project to collect food for the needy in response to the deaths of Pamela V. Snyder, 31, and her son, Preston Dray, 9.
How to donate: Boxes to collect food for Boyertown Area Multi-Service Inc. are located throughout Berks, Montgomery, Chester and Lehigh counties. Food will be collected until Aug. 17.
Information: www.boyertownareamulti-service.org
