Empty Stocking Fund Opens Holiday Meal Box Applications
Low-income households in Knox County can apply for a week's food box before the Nov. 25 deadline.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Philanthropy
The News Sentinel Charities Empty Stocking Fund has opened applications for holiday meal boxes for low-income households in Knox County and East Tennessee. Applications are due Nov. 25, and the fund plans to buy food for 3,000 boxes, each holding a week's worth of staples.
Why it matters
The fund runs entirely on volunteer labor with no overhead and collects donations year-round, so its capacity depends on donor and volunteer support rather than fixed budgets. For local grocers, produce suppliers and food vendors, the planned purchase of 3,000 boxes is a concrete holiday demand signal in the Knoxville market.
The Empty Stocking Fund plans to purchase food for 3,000 holiday meal boxes, with each box holding a ham, side dishes, fresh produce, bread and staples for a week. The program has run for more than 115 years, but the source provides no prior-year box totals for comparison.
The players
News Sentinel Charities Empty Stocking Fund
A volunteer-run holiday food and aid program operating for more than 115 years that collects donations year-round and distributes meal boxes without overhead.
Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee
The local community action agency that partners with the Empty Stocking Fund and takes in-person applications at its offices.
The details
Each box includes a ham, side dishes, fresh produce, bread and staples intended to last a household a week. Applicants must be low-income, may submit only one application per household, and can apply in person at Community Action Committee offices or by calling 865-564-9053. Because the fund is staffed entirely by volunteers, box volume depends on donations collected throughout the year.
Timeline
Nov. 25: deadline to submit applications.
Dec. 19: morning pickup for applicants who can drive.
Market Landscape
The Empty Stocking Fund's model rests on donations and volunteers rather than paid staff or grant funding through the Community Action Committee alone. Its 115-year run places it among long-standing local charitable holiday programs in Knoxville.
Local grocers, produce suppliers and food vendors should anticipate holiday demand tied to the 3,000 planned boxes. Businesses that want to support the effort can consider donating, since the fund collects contributions all year.
The takeaway
Community charitable programs like this one depend on steady volunteer and donor support, so businesses weighing holiday giving should note that donations are accepted year-round, not only in November. Applicants seeking help can call 865-564-9053 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday before the Nov. 25 deadline.
What happens next
Applications close Nov. 25, and boxes must be picked up the morning of Dec. 19 by applicants who can drive.
Further reading
For more on how local giving supports families during the holidays, explore Philanthropy coverage across the region.
