Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
TEEN GIVES BACK
His inflatable Christmas display raises money for SPCA
WEST GOSHEN » “This is a good way to express my love for Christmas, it’s a season of giving and I want to give back to the animals,” Gavin Snyder, 16, explained as he gave a tour of his every growing holiday inflatable display where he raises money for the Brandywine Valley SPCA.
This is the fourth year the Rustin High School sophomore has put on the West Chester display at his families’ South Concord Road to raise thousands of dollars. Last year Snyder raised over $3,000 and he has up his goal for this year to $3,500.
In 2017, Snyder began decorating his family’s yard with Christmas lights and 14 inflatable decorations. He raised $500 that year and he is now up to 40 inflatables, miles of lights and
set to music.
As the display has become larger Snyder added opportunities for visitors to meet Santa at the display during holiday weekends and he offers hot chocolate to visitors which he credits as one of the most successful aspects of the display. He estimated that nearly 1,000 visitors stopped to see the display.
“With everything going on this gives you the chance to get out of the house, do something fun and be safe and it helps the SPCA,” he said.
In the past, Snyder has collected items, as well as money, but he is moving from that and has found cash donations give the SPCA more flexibility.
He said as the display grew he has traded ideas with other area residents who also like to do large holiday displays. He pays for the displays from one of his two part-time jobs, not from donations and spends much of the year looking for bargains.
“I decided to do the front trees in lights and the back apple tree is wrapped in lights and the pathway is line with lights. The front of the house has icicle lights they hook up to a speaker and dance to music,” he said. “This weekend from Facebook I have 500 people who are coming.”
Snyder said visitors must wear masks and social distance. He’s widened the walkways. He has a special letters to Santa area where children can write their letters to Santa and drop them right in a mailbox for delivery. If they leave their address Santa will reply.
“Gavin’s ongoing commitment to helping animals in such a creative way is an inspiration. Each year the display and the resulting donations from the community grow beyond what we could’ve imagined,” said Linda Torelli, BVSPCA spokesperson. “The future is bright with young leaders like Gavin in our midst.”
Snyder’s grandfather, Don Herb helps with technical assistance for the display and credits his grandson with the planning and execution, adding that Gavin had plans for the display a month in advance and a diagram showing where everything should go.
“He put a lot of thought into this,” Herb said. “From the time he’s been about 4, he’s been doing Christmas displays.”