4-30-2024 4:50am

May 4, 2024: 6th Annual Preston’s Pantry Food Drive and Community Event Scheduled

Lesley Misko Editor

by Frank Buttaro, Jr.

The Boyertown Area Multi-Service is pleased to announce the 6th Annual Preston’s Pantry Food Drive and Community Event on Saturday, May 4, 2024, to honor the legacy of Preston’s selflessness and passion for helping others.

Activities will be held from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Boyertown Area Multi-Service located at 200 West Spring St, Boyertown PA, including music, food trucks, bounce houses, a dunk tank, face painting, balloon animals, rock painting, petting zoo and more.

Admission is free, but everyone attending is asked to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to Preston’s Pantry. T-shirts will be available for sale, and there will also be a basket raffle where all proceeds will be used to support the Pantry’s efforts to combat food insecurity in our service area.

“We are excited to hold this year’s event and have his legacy live on by giving to those in need,” offers Jocelyn Charles, BS, executive director. “In May 2018, when Preston was 8 years old, he ran a food drive for a school project and collected 45 pounds of food. His passion for helping others in this community touched our hearts when we delivered his donation to the Multi-Service facility,” she recalls. It truly shows, ‘An act of kindness, no matter how small, can go a long way.’”

The Food Pantry staff, volunteers and community continue to see the impact that Preston has made and in return they are committed to continue striving to keep his legacy alive.

“Preston’s kindness has brought awareness to our community and especially youth in our area,” Charles adds. “Since opening the doors in 1973, the food pantry has seen a progressive increase in its service to the community, even more during these pressing times.”

At this date, the Pantry serves 386 households, 1,062 individuals, with food assistance to those who currently do not have the financial means to meet their nutritional needs.

“The staff at Boyertown Area Multi-Service and Preston’s Pantry Project committee members look forward to a fun community event and recognize the importance of the help and support of our amazing community,” she concludes.

For updated details, find the 6th Annual Preston’s Pantry Food Drive and Community Event on Facebook.

Boyertown Area Multi-Service is a social service agency dedicated to meeting needs and improving the lives of people in the Boyertown School District Area and surrounding communities of Amity, District, Hereford, Pike and Oley townships. The organization also operates the Rickett’s Center in Pottstown and Center at Spring Street.

Preston’s Pantry Project is a group of community members who came together to honor a community service project Preston started and to continue his selfless contribution to helping others in need. The Project was created to carry on Preston’s legacy and in memory of him, his mother Pamela and unborn sister, Evelynn.