Vandalia VFW to host Snyder Family Benefit

Local artist Chad Cremeans will perform during a special public concert at VFW Post 9582 on Friday, July 24, as part of a benefit to raise funds for a local family in their time of need.

The Snyder Family Benefit is open to the public and will feature a performance by Chad Cremeans, as well as 50/50 drawings, raffle baskets, bounce houses and other games and activities. The event will be held from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at VFW Post 9582, located at 4170 Old Springfield Rd., Vandalia.

Pulled pork will be provided by the VFW, and all proceeds from the event will benefit the Snyder family. The post has also agreed to match up to $1,000 in bar sales for the night.

“They’re just really good people, who always tend to help others,” family friend Michael Randall said. “It would be amazing to get people involved in coming together to help support this family in a time of need.”

Holly Snyder has been diagnosed with kidney failure and is currently in the process of searching for a kidney donor for her second kidney transplant. Her husband, Dwight Snyder, was also recently in a serious motorcycle accident and is unable to work until his recovery is completed.

Originally from Troy, the Snyders have two adult children, Hallie and Davin. The benefit concert was planned by their daughter, Hallie, without their knowledge.

“They never asked for any of this,” Randall said. “I think they were blindsided.”

“They’re not the type that would ever ask for anything from anyone,” she said. “We kind of kept it on the down low, until everything was set in stone, so they knew absolutely nothing about it.”

Holly Snyder had a previous kidney transplant approximately 21 years ago, receiving a life-saving donation from her husband. She is currently seeking a donor for another transplant, and her son Davin is in the process of testing to find out if he is a candidate to donate one of his kidneys to her.

“This will be my second transplant,” she said. “The first time around, I was on dialysis for seven months; my husband was my donor then.”

“It would be nice for more people to donate when they get their driver’s license,” he said. “There are so many people waiting on not just kidneys, but all organs. If you’re a living donor and want to donate a kidney to help somebody else, there are so many people in need.”

Dwight Snyder was recently in a serious motorcycle crash.

“He broke his arm,” Holly Snyder said. “They put a metal rod in, connected to the bone, and he broke all of his ribs on the right side. He’s just in a long healing process; now he’s doing physical therapy for his arm.”

“He had a full-time job,” she said. “So that’s a big hurt, without the normal income coming in.”

The VFW will be open to the public during the benefit event. Admission will be $15 or $25 for two tickets.

“The VFW is pretty good about giving back to the community, and those in need,” Randall said. “We’d love for the community to come out and support this cause and help raise money and awareness for this family.”

“They’re just very good people,” he said. “If anybody deserves any type of help or a break, it’s definitely them.”