Annual Mayoral Red Kettle Challenge to raise vital funds and meet increased need for those combatting poverty, addiction and homelessness in elected officials’ designated communities
NORTH TEXAS (Dec. 9, 2025) — Across the region, local elected officials are ringing in the season of giving — and undergoing some friendly competition — through The Salvation Army of North Texas’ annual Mayoral Red Kettle Challenge.
Part of The Salvation Army’s iconic Red Kettle Campaign, the largest and longest-running fundraiser of its kind, the Mayoral Red Kettle Challenge invites local mayors, city council members, and elected officials to Give With Joy alongside The Salvation Army. Participants will gather donations online through The Salvation Army’s Virtual Red Kettle and fundraise through bell ringing at Red Kettles across Dallas, Denton, Collin, Tarrant, and Ellis Counties.
This year, more than 35 elected officials have challenged each other across North Texas to raise the most donations for The Salvation Army’s operations in the communities they represent. North Texans can support their local elected officials and vote for their favorite participant by dropping a donation in their Red Kettle in-person on Saturday or by donating online to their designated Virtual Red Kettle.
Every dollar donated to the Red Kettle Campaign stays in local communities, supporting the most vulnerable neighbors in the area in which the donation was given. The funds raised enable The Salvation Army to provide a range of social services that meet the specific needs of an area, including shelter, feeding, youth programs, addiction-recovery programs, inclement weather and disaster assistance, and more — year-round.
According to Feeding America’s most recent Map the Meal Gap report, North Texas has the third-highest number of people facing food insecurity in the nation at 15.7%, an increase from 14.3% in 2022. Additionally, Healthy North Texas found that 10.6% of people in North Texas are currently living below the poverty line, and a median of 12% of North Texas households are severely cost-burdened, meaning housing accounts for more than 50% of their income.
The 2025 Point-in-Time Count found that 3,500 people are experiencing homelessness in Dallas and Collin Counties and around 2,600 are experiencing homelessness in Tarrant County. In Denton County, one in three households are living below survival, according to the 2025 State of Homelessness Report, and the Ellis County Homeless Coalition cites a rise in homelessness in the area.
“The annual Mayoral Red Kettle Challenge is a fun and exciting way for the entire North Texas community to get involved in one of our most important fundraisers,” said Major Rob Webb, area commander of The Salvation Army of North Texas. “We have seen need continue to rise amongst our North Texas neighbors this year, and we are grateful for the generous support of our elected officials, donors, volunteers, and partners whose participation in the Mayoral Red Kettle Challenge sustains the services we provide for those combatting poverty, homelessness and addiction year-round.”
On Saturday, December 13, elected officials across North Texas will bell ring at Red Kettles as part of the Mayoral Red Kettle Challenge:
Dallas County
- Mayor Rick Stopfer at the Kroger on Market Place Boulevard in Irving
- Mayor Bruce Arfsten at the Kroger on Beltline Road in Addison
- Mayor Terry Lynne at the Walmart on Josey Lane in Farmers Branch
- City Council Member Adam Bazaldua at Walmart on Samuell Boulevard in Dallas
- Major Daniel Alemann Jr. In Mesquite
- Mayor Jeff Winget at the Walmart on Lakeview Parkway in Rowlett
- Mayor Dylan Hedrick at the Walmart on Garland Road in Garland
- Mayor Shawn McCaskill in Southlake
- Council Member Jesse Moreno at Kroger on Maple Avenue in Dallas
Denton County
- Mayor Gerard Hudspeth at the Hobby Lobby on South Loop 288 in Denton
- Mayor Lynn Clark at the Walmart on Hickory Creek Boulevard in Hickory Creek
- Mayor TJ Gilmore at the Sam’s Club on West Main Street in Lewisville
- Mayor Cheryl Moore at the Kroger on Cross Timbers Road in Flower Mound
- Mayor Jaclyn Carrington at the Kroger on FM407 East in Bartonville
- Mayor James Clark at the Ace Hardware on West First Street in Justin
- Mayor T. Lynn Tompkins at Walmart on Highway 380 in Cross Roads
Collin County
- Mayor David Bristol at the Kroger on North Preston Road in Prosper
- Mayor Baine Brooks at the Market Street on West Bethany Drive in Allen
- City Council Member Rick Horne in Plano
Tarrant/Ellis County
- Mayor Michael Evans at the Hobby Lobby on Highway 287 in Mansfield
- Mayor Jim Ross at Decorator’s Warehouse on West Pioneer Parkway in Arlington
- Mayor Darlene Copeland at the City of Blue Mound Community Center in Blue Mound
- Mayor Laurie Bianco at Green’s Produce, Campo Verde and Pan Pan Bakery in Dalworthington Gardens
- Mayor Stephanie Boardingham at the Walgreens in Forest Hill
- Mayor Armin Mizani in Keller
- Mayor Brad Horton at the Walmart on Highway 287 and Kroger on West Sublett Road in Arlington
- Mayor Jack McCarty at all Walmart and Kroger locations in North Richland Hills
- Mayor Billie Wallace in Waxahachie
- Mayor Faron Young at the Sam’s Club on Westworth Boulevard in Westworth Village
- Mayor Russ Brewster at the Walmart on West Pioneer Parkway in Pantego
- Mayor Clyde C. Hairston at the Walmart on Interstate 35 in Lancaster
The following elected officials have already bell rang at a Red Kettle as part of the Mayoral Challenge:
- Mayor Charlotte Wilcox in Highland Village
- Mayor Curtis Cornelius in Little Elm
- Mayor Rhonda Harrison in Denton
- Mayor Thomas Muir in Sanger
- Mayor Chris Rich in Aubrey
- Mayor Bill Cox in McKinney
- Mayor Dusty Kuykendall in Lucas
- Mayor Mattie Parker in Fort Worth
As the region’s largest social services provider, The Salvation Army is uniquely positioned to respond to the ever-changing needs of our community in every pocket of North Texas. The community can join their local elected officials in registering to bell ring at a local Red Kettle at registertoring.com. They can also donate online or host their own Virtual Red Kettle as an individual or with a group.
To learn more, visit SalvationArmyNorthTexas.org/Christmas.
About The Salvation Army of North Texas
The Salvation Army of North Texas provides a range of services to combat poverty, addiction, and homelessness at 21 centers of operation in Dallas and Rockwall, Tarrant and Ellis, and Denton and Collin counties. Faithful to our mission, The Salvation Army enables God-empowered transformations of individuals and society through food assistance, shelter, rehabilitation, counseling, spiritual support, mentoring and job placement, and more. For more information, visit SalvationArmyNorthTexas.org.
