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The Rally Point
Free evening socials where veterans of any branch and era regroup, at breweries, restaurants and VFW posts across East Tennessee. 29 were held in 2025.
Powered by Veterans, for Veterans
Helping the veteran community in East Tennessee
Rocky Top Veterans Foundation is an all-volunteer, veteran-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Since 2020 we've honored veterans and their families across East Tennessee. Today we bring veterans together at free Rally Point socials and train neighbors in suicide prevention.
- All volunteers
- $0 in salaries
- 501(c)(3) since 2020
Next Rally PointFree
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Wednesday, November 11: Abridged Beer Company
6 to 8 pm · 320 N Peters Rd, Suite 103, Knoxville
All veterans, any branch and era
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Wednesday, December 2: VFW Post 5154
6 to 8 pm · 2561 Hobbs Rd., Louisville
All veterans, any branch and era
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Wednesday, December 16: Printshop Beer Co
6 to 8 pm · 1532 Island Home Ave, Knoxville
All veterans, any branch and era
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Thursday, January 14: 1907 Brewing Company
6 to 8 pm · 103 W Main St., Morristown
All veterans, any branch and era
New dates are posted soon.
2025 at a glance
- 29free veteran dinner socials
- 1,000+veterans served at them
- 191people certified in suicide prevention
- 18businesses certified as Veteran Safe Places
All in 2025, as reported by Knox TN Today, April 2026 (opens in a new tab).
What we do
Four ways we show up for veterans
Free for veterans. Open to anyone who wants to help.
02
Vet Talk Survival Seminars
Free seminars on suicide prevention and awareness, PTSD, critical incident planning and military sexual trauma. You leave with a certificate in QPR suicide-prevention training. 191 people were certified in 2025.
03
FIRE-TEAM Tennessee
A network of neighbors trained to spot a veteran in crisis and connect them to help. Take the training, learn your local veteran resources and attend three veteran events a year.
04
Veteran Safe Places
Local businesses whose staff trained in QPR. Look for the decal in the window: the people inside are ready to listen and help.
Where we gather
Rally Points across East Tennessee
Over the past year, Rally Points and Foundation events have been held in 12 towns, from Morristown to Chattanooga. 13 Veteran Safe Places are listed in Blount, Knox and Sevier counties.
- Knoxville11 events, 9 Safe Places
- Morristown6 events
- Maryville4 events, 3 Safe Places
- Oak Ridge3 events
- Sweetwater3 events
- Wartburg3 events
- Harriman2 events
- Alcoa1 event, 2 Safe Places
- Chattanooga1 event
- Farragut1 event
- Louisville1 event
- Townsend1 event
- Rally Points and events, past year (bigger pin, more events)
- Veteran Safe Places
- Friendsville, our home base
- Counties with 2026 events or Safe Places
More ways we serve
Honoring veterans all year
Veterans breakfasts
Free breakfasts around the community with the United Veterans Council of East Tennessee and Knoxville DAV Chapter 24.
Sustained Valor
A handshake, a thank-you and a "Veterans only" T-shirt. About 2,500 given as of May 2025.
Assisted living and Christmas
Visits, needed items and Christmas gifts for veterans in local assisted living, every year since 2020.
Operation WHOLE HEALTH
A free one-day care event with Trinity Dental Clinic in Maryville: dental assessments, Veterans Service Officers and more.
Bourbon & Bowties Gala
Our biggest fundraiser of the year pays for the next 365 days of work for veterans.
Casino Night
Our second big fundraiser, which also helps fund Wreaths Across America each December.
Why we started
“I basically got tired of not seeing a difference being made in my own community… That got me motivated to start our own organization to where we could see the change being made as it happens and have a front row seat on how the money is spent while actually engaging the veterans in our area.”
Where the money goes
No one here is paid
$0in salaries, every year since 2020
Every officer and volunteer serves for free. In 2025, about 96% of spending went to veteran programs.
2025 spending: $70,753
- Vet Talk, partner sponsorships and Sustained Valor shirts
- $26,451
- Veteran socials and events
- $20,908
- Wreaths Across America
- $13,923
- Assisted-living visits and Christmas gifts
- $6,603
- All other expenses
- $2,868
Corporate sponsors
Holston Gases (opens in a new tab) of Knoxville supports our mission of honoring and helping veterans in East Tennessee.
Brisco Woods and the Better Call Brisco Team (opens in a new tab) of United Real Estate Solutions, a corporate sponsor and certified Veteran Safe Place.
The Tennessee Valley Authority (opens in a new tab) in Knoxville sponsors our FIRE-TEAM Tennessee program.
Rocky Top Veterans Foundation Supporters
The breweries, restaurants and food trucks that host and feed our Rally Points. Thank you.
Questions people ask
Who can come to a Rally Point?
All veterans, any branch and any era. Rally Points are free and are held at breweries, restaurants and VFW posts across East Tennessee, usually from 6 to 8 pm. See the upcoming dates.
Do I have to be a veteran to take the QPR training?
No. Anyone can take the free QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide-prevention training and join FIRE-TEAM Tennessee. "We are not asking you to be a counselor. We are asking you to be a connector."
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Rocky Top Veterans Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity, and the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. See ways to give.
How much of the money goes to veterans?
No one is paid: every officer and volunteer serves for free. About 96% of 2025 spending went to veteran programs, according to our IRS Form 990-EZ.
Is the Foundation part of the VA?
No. We're an independent, community-funded nonprofit. We work alongside the DAV, the Vet Center and Veterans Service Officers, and we connect veterans to them.
What happened to Pints With Patriots?
Same socials, new name: Pints With Patriots is now The Rally Point.
Any branch. Any era.
Your next Rally Point is a week or two away
Rally Points are free, and they happen at local businesses across East Tennessee. Come regroup with veterans who live near you.