Salvation Army Red Kettle Season Begins November 3
November 3, 2026, 2:15 p.m.
KNOXVILLE - The familiar sound of Salvation Army bells will soon return to East Tennessee as the organization's annual Red Kettle Campaign gets underway. The first bells have begun ringing at select locations across Greater Knoxville, Maryville and Sevierville on Tuesday, November 3, with additional locations opening in mid-November and even more following Thanksgiving.
The campaign's official kickoff celebration will take place Friday, November 13th, at the Knoxville Ice Bears game, marking the start of the holiday fundraising season. Globalstar Logistics is our kick-off sponsor, providing a generous donation to get the season rolling!
November 14th marks the first day of bell ringing at participating Walmart stores across East Tennessee, bringing even more opportunities for shoppers to support The Salvation Army while completing their holiday shopping.
While the Red Kettle Campaign is a beloved Christmas tradition, the money raised funds critical Salvation Army programs throughout the year, including shelter, meals, case management, emergency assistance, disaster relief, and other services that help individuals and families get through a difficult time and move toward greater stability.
The impact of these programs is substantial. According to the 2025 Annual Report of the entire Knoxville Area Command (which serves six East Tennessee counties including Knox, Anderson, Campbell, Blount, Sevier, and Cocke counties) the organization provided:
• 23,114 nights of shelter
• served 29,927 meals
• helped 91 individuals move into permanent housing, and
• provided 1,344 boxes of food to neighbors facing hardship.
Those numbers are trending even higher in 2026.
"When someone drops a donation into a red kettle, they are helping us provide a safe place to sleep, a hot meal, or assistance to a neighbor facing a crisis in March, July, or any other time of year," said Area Commander Captain David Brittle. "The needs don't end when the Christmas decorations come down, and neither does our work."
Volunteers Urgently Needed to Keep the Bells Ringing
The Salvation Army is calling on individuals, families, churches, businesses, civic organizations, and community groups to volunteer as bell ringers throughout the campaign.
As more kettle locations open in the coming weeks, the need for volunteers will increase significantly. Every unfilled shift represents a missed opportunity to raise funds for programs that local families depend on. Volunteers can find available locations and sign up for shifts at SalvationArmyVolunteer.org.
Local Businesses Step Up to Multiply Community Giving
Several East Tennessee businesses and organizations are once again providing matching gifts and sponsorships to help make donations go even further. Just a few of these community partners include GlobalStar Logistics, the Morgan Wallen Foundation , and ORNL Federal Credit Union.
Other local businesses and organizations are generously matching individual kettles and staffing kettles across East Tennessee, including many local Kiwanis Clubs, Rotary Clubs, and local churches. These partnerships encourage community generosity and provide an opportunity for kettle donations to have an even greater impact.
"We are so grateful for the businesses and organizations that invest in our mission," said Kayla Klein, Development Director. "Their generosity, combined with thousands of individual gifts and the time given by our volunteers, makes this campaign possible."
Give with Joy. Give with Purpose.
The Salvation Army encourages East Tennessee residents to look for the familiar red kettles while shopping this holiday season and to give whatever they can. Every donation, large or small, helps support essential services in the communities where it is collected. The community can also donate digitally at the kettle locations or by visiting your local Salvation Army websites.
"Most people recognize the red kettle. What we hope they'll also recognize is what that kettle represents," said Captain Brittle. "It's a warm bed for someone who has nowhere to go. It's groceries for a family struggling to make ends meet. It's a chance for someone facing a difficult season of life to find a path forward. That's what our bell ringers and donors make possible."
To volunteer as a bell ringer, visit SalvationArmyVolunteer.org.
The Salvation Army annually helps nearly 24 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardship through a wide range of social services. By providing food, shelter, disaster relief, rehabilitation, and practical support for people in need, The Salvation Army serves communities across the country through nearly 7,000 centers of operation.
