Renovo Toys For Tots program faces donation shortage

By Emily Wright

RENOVO — The Renovo Toys For Tots program, coordinated by The Salvation Army Renovo Service Extension, is facing a challenge this year as the number of families requesting assistance has increased while donations to the program have been sparse. The final date to make a donation is Monday, December 11, just shy of one month away.

Robin Davenport, Office Coordinator and Caseworker for The Salvation Army Renovo Service Extension, took to social media this week to raise awareness about the lack of donations she has observed thus far and to ask residents of Clinton County to come together and donate to the program to help make Christmas special for children in need.

In her Facebook post, she highlighted the number of kids who have been signed up for the program in Renovo, with 44 females and 65 males in need this Christmas. “There are 109 kids signed up for toys for tots this year!! I have made my way around town and the [donation] boxes are looking pretty slim. This goes towards a good cause and it takes a community to make this possible!! Please take time to buy a toy for a kid in need this Christmas Season!! Thank you,” her post said.

The Record reached out to Davenport for more information about those in need this Christmas and to find out how the community can help. “We did all the signups in one day on November 10th, and we had 49 families sign up, which is a big increase from last year,” she shared.

Donation boxes are located at various businesses throughout Renovo. They can be found at the Renovo and North Bend Post Offices, the Sons of Italy, the Renovo American Legion 442, Bucktail Medical Center, Bucktail Area Middle School/High School, and at the Dollar General. All donations must be new or still sealed items in their original packaging.

Davenport mentioned that the Toys For Tots program also accepts monetary donations by mail. Donors can send a check to P.O. Box 139, Renovo, PA 17764. The checks should be made out to “Toys for Tots” and the memo line must state “Renovo Toys For Tots”. Additionally, individuals can make a monetary contribution by putting it into any of the canisters near the toy donation boxes in Renovo.

“This year, the biggest age group is between ages 6-10,” Davenport said regarding the children who are signed up. When asked about what specific toys or items to donate, she listed items that have been requested by local kids, “Things requested this season are Barbies, Minecraft games/merchandise, art supplies, Pokemon, remote trucks and cars, Mickey Mouse, action figures, makeup, lots of requests for educational toys, and camping stuff like tents and sleeping bags,” she said. New winter hats, gloves, socks, and blankets are welcomed donations as well.

With volunteers and organizations already in place to assist with the program, Davenport is urging the community to come together to ensure that every child in the Renovo area who is in need receives a gift this Christmas season.

In terms of picking up donated gifts, Davenport explained that recipients of the Toys For Tots program will receive a letter in the mail with the date, time, and assigned number of their gift bags. “The Salvation Army Renovo Service Extension Center and The United Methodist Church on 7th Street in Renovo are partnered up as our distribution sites,” she said.

The program is made possible with the help of various individuals and organizations, and Davenport emphasized her appreciation for those who dedicate their time and effort to the Toys For Tots program in Renovo. “People here that should be recognized are Annie Schrimshaw and Gary Man. They take out our donation boxes and canisters and then they pick all of that up for us,” Robin said. “Also, Gail Valore Calhoun did all of our signups this past Friday with the families.”

Robin also wishes to thank the individuals who will donate their time and efforts in sorting and bagging up the donated gifts, “Roland Davenport, Rick Davenport, and Michelle Cipelewiski, who is the Regional Manager for The Salvation Army will be bagging up the toys,” she said.

Davenport acknowledged that the program works closely with Jeff Croak from the Veterans Affairs office in Lock Haven as well as Mark the Shark, who holds the live radio broadcast toy drive on 92.1 WSQV in partnership with Clinton County Toys for Tots at Walmart in Mill Hall each year.

Davenport continues to encourage everyone to get involved, whether it’s by donating a gift at one of the donation boxes, making a monetary donation, or volunteering to lend a hand and help organize gifts for recipients this year.

In closing, Robin wanted to express her appreciation once more, stating, “Please thank the Renovo Community for all of the help they do, as well as The Lock Haven Veterans, Mark the Shark, The United Methodist Church on 7th Street, and The Salvation Army Volunteers.”