Final answer:
People were leaving food in their mailboxes for Ray to apologize to him.
Step-by-step explanation:
Marty thought people were starting to leave food in their mailboxes for Ray because they wanted to apologize to him. This is evident in the story when the narrator mentions that Ray was known for helping others and people felt guilty for not doing the same. By leaving food in his mailbox, they were trying to make amends and show their remorse for not helping him before.