The Salvation Army of El Paso is bringing back its Red Kettle Run on November 7, gathering runners and walkers at Braden Aboud Memorial Park for a family-friendly race that doubles as a holiday food drive. Every $25 raised through the event buys one Thanksgiving turkey for a local family, with organizers aiming to stock 400 turkeys for families in need this Thanksgiving and Christmas season.
According to KVIA, the Salvation Army in El Paso announced the annual event will include a family-oriented 5-mile run and a 1-mile walk at the park located at 4325 River Bend Dr. Registration details posted on RunSignup show the 1-mile family walk kicking off at 8 a.m., with the 5-mile run following at 8:15 a.m. Registration costs $35 per participant, and remains open, while local businesses can sponsor the event for $250.
The race proceeds go directly toward the Salvation Army's holiday food and shelter initiatives, feeding into the organization's broader mission of crisis relief across the borderland. Those seeking more information or hoping to register can visit salvationarmyelpaso.org.
The Salvation Army's El Paso Operations
The Salvation Army of El Paso runs its main Citadel Corps administrative office and emergency family shelter at 4300 East Paisano Drive, according to the Salvation Army.
The scale of that need is considerable. In 2025 alone, the Salvation Army of El Paso provided 54,814 meals and 20,491 nights of shelter to local residents experiencing crisis, per figures published by the Salvation Army of El Paso.
Why El Paso's Need Runs Deep
The demand behind these programs is rooted in local economic realities. U.S. Census Bureau 1-year estimates for 2024, compiled by Census Reporter, show approximately 18.7% of El Paso County residents — about 161,000 people — live below the federal poverty line, including 24% of children under 18. That poverty rate runs about 1.4 times higher than the statewide average in Texas.
Regional food insecurity compounds the challenge. In 2024, food partner El Pasoans Fighting Hunger distributed 110 million pounds of food across El Paso, Hudspeth, and Culberson Counties, making it the sixth-largest food bank nationally. Local nonprofits like the Salvation Army work alongside that regional infrastructure to meet spikes in demand during the holidays.
A Fundraising Tradition Dating Back 135 Years
The Red Kettle name traces back to December 1891, when Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee placed an iron crab pot at San Francisco's Oakland Ferry Landing with a sign reading “Keep the Pot Boiling,” hoping to raise money for 1,000 Christmas meals, according to Caring Magazine.
That tradition has spread nationwide, with Red Kettle fundraising taking place during the Christmas season. El Paso's local goal of 400 turkeys is one part of that broader effort.
The Race's Host Site
Braden Aboud Memorial Park will host the race, bringing runners and walkers together for the event.
Organizers are encouraging both individual participants and local businesses to sign up ahead of November 7.
