KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Lots of local nonprofits can help families celebrate the holidays with food, clothes and gifts. There's several months to go before Christmas, but applications for some nonprofits are already open. Here's the deadlines and requirements you need to know this fall.
Empty Stocking Fund
This Knoxville nonprofit project raises funds for local families' Christmas celebrations -- providing holiday staples and gifts for young children. Recipients receive a 12-pound turkey, a 7-pound ham, cranberry sauce and stuffing mix. They get a total of 45 food items to provide for meals during the holiday season. Kids ages 16 and younger in each household also get a new toy and book.
Signups for recipients start in November. The Knox County Community Action Committee manages the recipient process. There are three locations for recipients to apply.
- East Center 4200 Asheville Hwy in the Holston Shopping Center
- West Center 2247 Western Avenue/LT Ross Building
- South Center 522 Old Maryville Pike in the Vestal Boys and Girls Center
People can apply at the following dates and times:
- Nov. 25 through Nov. 27, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Dec. 2 through Dec. 6, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 7 at the LT Ross Building only, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
To apply, you'll need the following documents:
- Proof of Social Security numbers for all members in the household, no exceptions
- Proof of all household income, earned and unearned
- Proof of rent or mortgage
- Recent utility bill
Toys for Tots
The Marine Toys for Tots Program collects new toys and distributes them to children during the holidays. Registration for the program's Knoxville campaign runs from Oct. 1 to Nov. 15.
Children 14 and under can receive toys. This year, the Knoxville campaign willa ccept requests from families in Anderson. Blount, Knox, Loudon, and Roane Counties. People can apply at the campaign's website here. The form asks for guardian contact information, location and the name, gender, and age of each child.
Coats For The Cold
Coats for the Cold is an annual coat drive to collect thousands of coats for people who need them in Knoxville.
The community is invited to donate used men’s, women’s and children’s coats at any KARM Stores location or any Prestige Cleaners location from Oct. 14 to Nov. 9.
Those in need of a coat are encouraged to contact local service agencies or churches to receive a coat voucher, then shop at any KARM Stores location with the voucher from Nov. 11 to Dec. 7.
Second Harvest Food Bank
You can donate food or receive help at eight Knoxville-area Second Harvest Food Bank locations. The nonprofit helps families receive food all year.
Below is a list of local food pantries in Knox County. To find a location's hours of distribution, call the number listed.
- Beaver Ridge United Methodist Church 7753 Oak Ridge Hwy. Knoxville, TN 37931: (865) 690-1060
- C.A.R.E. Food Pantry 138 Admiral Road Knoxville, TN 37934: (865) 966-5224
- Callahan Road Baptist Church 1317 Callahan Road Knoxville, TN 37912: (865) 938-3410
- Central United Methodist 201 3rd Avenue Knoxville, TN 37917: (865) 524-1659
- Church and Society Food Pantry/Powell United Methodist Church 323 W Emory Road Knoxville, TN 37849: (865) 938-2741
- Cokesbury UMC – Manna House 9915 Kingston Pike Knoxville, TN 37922: (865) 693-0353
- Cornerstone Church of God 12813 Kingston Pike Knoxville, TN 37934: (865) 966-2300
- Corryton Hospitality Pantry 7815 Corryton Road Corryton, TN 37721: (865) 687-6438
For more information on events and resources with Second Harvest, click here.
Salvation Army
Salvation Army Volunteer Coordinator April Keeton said you can get involved by donating at the Red Kettle stations around East Tennessee.
"Anybody that moved here, that lives here because the people care," Keeton said. "It's a great, caring community."
The Angel Tree already has every child adopted, but will take toys anyway for kids under 12 up until December 16.
"Our goal everyday is to meet the need," Keeton said. "So that will never change. Whatever that looks like--whether it's help with moving into an apartment, clothing, shoes, whatever that need is, our goal is to meet it."
The Salvation Army plans to kick off the Red Kettle program November 8.
For more information on the Salvation Army, click here.