New England Patriots: Blending Preseason Prep with Kindness Ahead of 2026 NFL Season

As July’s summer heat settled over Foxborough and the Patriots shifted from offseason workouts to full-fledged preseason training camp, the team’s commitment to their “kindness movement” didn’t take a backseat—it became part of their daily routine. For the 2026 Patriots, preseason wasn’t just about refining plays or building team chemistry; it was about honoring the promise they’d made to communities across the country: to keep lifting others up, even as they chased another Super Bowl title. New England Patriots: Blending Preseason Prep with Kindness Ahead of 2026 NFL Season captures how the team wove 公益 (charity) into every part of their preseason—from rookies fulfilling their “Kindness Pledges” to veterans leading new cross-division collaborations, and even turning training camp practices into opportunities to connect with fans in need.

The first week of July marked the launch of rookie Jalen Carter’s “Sacks for Supper” initiative—his promise to donate $1,000 to the Patriots Community Kitchen for every sack he records in 2026. To kick off the project, Carter spent a Tuesday afternoon at the Worcester kitchen, serving meals to 150 residents and hosting a “Football & Food” workshop for 50 local kids. The workshop blended football drills (Carter taught the kids how to “tackle” a plate of veggies with fun dips) with lessons on healthy eating, and ended with each child taking home a reusable water bottle and a Patriots-themed nutrition guide. For 9-year-old Leo, who’d struggled to eat vegetables before the workshop, the day was a win-win: “Mr. Carter said if I eat my carrots, I’ll be strong like him,” Leo said, holding up a carrot stick. “Now I want to eat veggies every day!” By the end of July, Carter’s initiative had already raised $5,000 for the kitchen (donated by local businesses matching his pledge), and the kitchen added a “Kid’s Meal Corner” where kids could get a free, healthy snack after school—funded entirely by “Sacks for Supper.” “This isn’t just about donating money,” Carter said, wiping down tables after the workshop. “It’s about showing up. The veterans told me that’s what being a Patriot is—you don’t just write a check; you sit down and eat with the people you’re helping. That’s the part I love most.”

Mid-July brought a new chapter to the “Cross-Division Kindness Exchange,” as the Patriots partnered with Seattle Seahawks fans for “Run for Resilience”—a 5K race in Seattle benefiting 青少年心理健康 (youth mental health) organizations. The idea came from a Patriots fan in Seattle who’d reached out to the team’s foundation, asking to address the rising rates of anxiety and depression among kids in the Pacific Northwest. Demario Douglas, who’d spoken openly about his own struggles with mental health during his rookie year, traveled to Seattle to co-host the race with Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf. Over 1,200 fans from both teams showed up, wearing a mix of Patriots red and Seahawks blue, and raised $75,000 for Seattle Children’s Hospital’s mental health program. The race ended with a “Hope Circle” where Douglas and Metcalf shared their stories, and kids from the hospital got to meet both players. “When I was a kid, I didn’t know how to talk about feeling sad,” Douglas told the crowd. “Events like this let kids know they’re not alone. And seeing Patriots and Seahawks fans running side by side? That’s proof that kindness is bigger than any rivalry.” The success of “Run for Resilience” inspired plans for more mental health-focused events: the Patriots and Broncos fans planned a “Talk & Tackle” workshop in Denver for August, and the Patriots and Eagles fans were organizing a “Mental Health Fair” in Philadelphia for September. “This exchange started with toys and books, but it’s grown into something deeper,” said Josh Kraft, who attended the Seattle race. “We’re addressing real, urgent needs—like mental health—and bringing fans together to solve them. That’s the power of this movement.”

August saw the Patriots Community Kitchen launch its “Summer Nutrition Program,” designed to fill the “food gap” for kids who rely on school meals during the year. The program served free breakfast and lunch to 200 kids daily, plus a “Grab-and-Go” snack pack for evening, and included weekly field trips to local farms (to teach kids where food comes from) and cooking classes (where kids learned to make simple, healthy meals like fruit smoothies and veggie wraps). Maria Lopez, who helped design the program, recruited 50 Patriots staff and players to volunteer as “Summer Nutrition Buddies”—each player was paired with a group of kids to eat with, play games with, and help with cooking classes. Pierre Strong Jr. became a fan favorite, teaching kids how to make “Touchdown Tacos” (his grandma’s recipe) and sharing stories about growing up on a farm in Mississippi. “When I was a kid, I didn’t always have enough to eat in the summer,” Strong said, handing a taco to 7-year-old Lila (his cousin, who’d moved to Worcester with her family after the wildfires). “This program isn’t just about feeding kids—it’s about making them feel special. Every kid deserves to have someone sit with them and ask how their day was.” By the end of August, the program had served 12,000 meals, and 90% of the kids reported trying a new vegetable or fruit they’d never eaten before. Rosa—who’d moved into her own apartment and now volunteered at the kitchen—helped lead the farm trips, sharing her own love of gardening with the kids. “These kids remind me of why I keep going,” Rosa said, picking strawberries with a group of kids at a local farm. “They’re so curious, so full of joy. This program isn’t just feeding their bellies—it’s feeding their hearts.”

As preseason came to an end in late August and the Patriots prepared for their Week 1 game against the New York Jets, the team’s preseason of kindness had left a lasting mark. Jalen Carter’s “Sacks for Supper” had raised $12,000 for the kitchen. The “Cross-Division Kindness Exchange” had expanded to 10 teams and raised over $200,000 for various causes. The “Summer Nutrition Program” had fed 200 kids daily and taught them lifelong skills about food and health. And for the players, the preseason had reinforced something important: their success on the field was tied to their impact off it. “Training camp is tough—you’re up early, you’re tired, you’re pushing your body to the limit,” Bailey Zappe said, after volunteering at the kitchen’s final summer cooking class. “But then you sit down with a kid who’s excited to show you the smoothie they made, or a parent who thanks you for the meal—and it all makes sense. This is why we do what we do. Football is great, but this? This is forever.”

Bill Belichick summed up the preseason’s meaning in a team meeting before Week 1: “Preseason is about preparation—preparing your body, preparing your mind, preparing to win. But this preseason, we prepared something more important: we prepared to keep our promise to the community. Every sack Jalen gets, every race we run, every meal we serve—it’s all part of that promise. And when we step onto the field against the Jets, we’re not just playing for a win. We’re playing for the kids in the nutrition program, the families in Seattle, the people in this kitchen. We’re playing for them.”

For lifelong fan Linda Carter, who attended the Seattle race, the summer nutrition program’s cooking classes, and the Jets Week 1 pregame “Kindness Tailgate” (where fans donated school supplies to local kids), the preseason had been just as exciting as the regular season. “I used to count down to Week 1 for the football,” Carter said, holding a photo of her grandson with Strong at the cooking class. “Now I count down for the kindness. This team has changed what it means to be a fan—we’re not just watching a game; we’re part of a movement. And I can’t wait to see what they do this season, both on and off the field.”

New England Patriots: Blending Preseason Prep with Kindness Ahead of 2026 NFL Season isn’t just a story about a preseason. It’s a story about how a football team can turn a season of preparation into a season of purpose. As the Patriots kick off the 2026 NFL season, they’re not just defending a Super Bowl title—they’re defending a legacy of kindness. And with every practice, every game, and every act of service, they’re proving that sports can be more than entertainment. It can be a force for good. And the best part? They’re just getting started.