Renovo Community Rally to Make Christmas Brighter for 117 Children

Record Editor2 hours agoLast Updated: December 15, 2025

2 minutes read

Clinton County Leadership 2025 surprised those receiving Toys for Tots with full holiday meals ready to be cooked on Christmas morning to all of the families that stopped in to collect toys from the Salvation Army in Renovo Saturday afternoon. Taking a quick picture break from braving the cold and passing out the bags and boxes of food are: Support dog Luna and Tasha Walters Back row from left; Colleen Yost, Hannah Park, Tera Redmond and Rayne Burgin.

By Kevin Rauch
RENOVO – Few, if any, have done as much for those in need in western Clinton County over the last decade or so than Robin Davenport- Program/Office Coordinator and Caseworker for the Renovo Salvation Army. In addition to assisting so many in getting assistance and needed items as a caseworker, overseeing countless food assistance events and helping to find housing for homeless, Davenport has become a sturdy staple for helping people when they are at a point in their lives when they need it the most.

So when her eyes swelled up with tears as she thanked the Renovo community for coming through and helping with Toys for Tots, it’s a testament to what the small, still close-knit community can and will do in service of others.

“Lycoming Clinton County Toys for Tots helped us out, but then Renovo stepped up big time” Davenport said, moved by the level of compassion shown. “I can’t say that I’m surprised, but you never actually expect this level of giving, but here we are”.

This was the 9th year for the Renovo Salvation group to oversee Toys for Tots, having taken the program over from the Bucktail Detachment Marine Corps when the Marines asked them to do so. As the passing of bags of toys took place Saturday afternoon, 41 families and 117 children will have brighter Christmas mornings thanks to the massive effort.

Davenport’s team of Barry Hills, Amy Lauten, Sue Friese, Connie Kitchen, Gary Mann, Ann Scrimshaw, Leann Bunsick and Charmaine Gentzyel have played the roles of Elves tirelessly over the past week as the toys started coming in. Roland Davenport had spent a week’s worth of evenings putting bicycles together.

Davenport said that the Service Garage was a major factor, having spearheaded a collection of toys and buying the bicycles that will find their way under Christmas Trees next Thursday.

A surprise to many that stopped by for their toys, the Leadership Clinton County 2025 class was on hand providing food, including everything that a family needs for a Christmas meal.

Leadership member Colleen Yost explained that there are 12 people in the class this year, as 5 of them partnered with Davenport to offer the dinners. Yost said that they came prepared to help up to 65 families; any food left over will be given to the Love Center for their mobile pantry.

As recipients left the 7th Street drop off on Saturday, they often needed assistance with their large bags of toys and boxes and bags of food.

Davenport and all of her helpers may not have been the ones to actually drop down through chimneys to make Christmas morning magical, but for so many, that’s about the only thing they couldn’t quite pull off in making memorable holiday moments.