Holiday Giving Back Efforts Showcased by the Jacksonville Jaguars

As the holiday season arrives, the Jacksonville Jaguars have kicked off a series of heartfelt giving back efforts, reinforcing their longstanding commitment to supporting the local community. This year’s initiatives span across three key areas—toy drives for children in need, food distribution for families facing food insecurity, and visits to hospitals and senior centers—all designed to spread joy and alleviate hardship during a time that can be challenging for many. What sets the Jaguars’ holiday efforts apart is the active participation of players, coaches, and staff, who don’t just donate resources but also take time to connect with community members face-to-face. From quarterback Trevor Lawrence handing out toys to hospitalized kids to defensive end Josh Allen packing meal kits, these moments of human connection turn the team’s giving into something meaningful and memorable. Holiday Giving Back Efforts Showcased by the Jacksonville Jaguars breaks down the team’s key initiatives, the impact they’re having, and why they matter to both the community and the franchise.

Holiday Giving Back Efforts Showcased by the Jacksonville Jaguars first focuses on the team’s flagship “Toys for Tots” drive, which has become a holiday tradition in Jacksonville. This year, the Jaguars partnered with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to collect new, unwrapped toys at MetLife Stadium during their Week 14 game against the Colts. Fans who brought toys received a free Jaguars branded ornament, and the team matched every toy donated with an additional contribution—resulting in over 12,000 toys collected in a single day. The toys were distributed to local organizations, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida, Jacksonville Children’s Hospital, and foster care agencies, ensuring they reached kids ages 2 to 14. On a Tuesday morning after the drive, Lawrence, along with wide receiver Calvin Ridley and linebacker Devin Lloyd, visited Jacksonville Children’s Hospital to hand out toys and spend time with young patients. “Seeing the kids’ faces light up when they get a toy—there’s no better feeling,” Lawrence said during the visit. “The holidays should be about joy, and if we can help make that happen for these kids, it’s the least we can do. This community supports us all season, so giving back is just our way of saying thank you.”

Holiday Giving Back Efforts Showcased by the Jacksonville Jaguars next delves into the team’s “Holiday Meal Drive,” which addresses food insecurity—a pressing issue in Jacksonville, where 1 in 6 children and 1 in 8 adults struggle to afford enough food. The Jaguars partnered with Feeding Northeast Florida, a local food bank, to pack and distribute 5,000 holiday meal kits, each containing a frozen turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green beans, and a dessert mix—enough to feed a family of four. Over 30 Jaguars players and coaches, including Allen and head coach Doug Pederson, volunteered at the food bank on a Saturday morning, spending three hours packing kits and loading them into delivery trucks. The meals were distributed to 20 local churches and community centers, which then handed them out to families in need. Pederson, who has participated in similar drives throughout his coaching career, emphasized the importance of addressing basic needs during the holidays. “No family should have to choose between paying bills and putting a holiday meal on the table,” Pederson said. “These meal kits are about more than food—they’re about dignity. They let families know that someone cares, and that they’re not alone during this season.”

Holiday Giving Back Efforts Showcased by the Jacksonville Jaguars also highlights the team’s visits to senior centers, which often get overlooked during holiday giving. This year, a group of Jaguars cheerleaders and players—including rookie defensive end Jalen Carter and safety Andre Cisco—visited three local senior centers, bringing holiday cards (handwritten by Jaguars staff), small gifts (like blankets and hats), and live music. They spent time chatting with residents, listening to their stories, and even joining in for a game of bingo. For many seniors, especially those who don’t have family nearby, the visits were a welcome break from loneliness. At one center, 82-year-old Jacksonville native Mary Johnson teared up while talking to Carter. “I’ve been a Jaguars fan since day one, but I never thought a player would take time to sit and talk to me,” Johnson said. “This made my holiday. It’s not the gifts—it’s the company that matters.” For the Jacksonville Jaguars, these senior visits are a reminder that community support isn’t just for children or families—it’s for everyone. “Seniors are the backbone of this community, and they’ve supported this team for decades,” said Jaguars community relations director Sarah Miller. “We wanted to make sure they feel seen and appreciated this holiday season. Those conversations are just as meaningful for our players as they are for the residents.”

Another layer of Holiday Giving Back Efforts Showcased by the Jacksonville Jaguars is the team’s focus on sustainability and long-term impact, not just one-time donations. This year, the Jaguars launched a “Holiday Giving Challenge” for local businesses, encouraging them to match the team’s food and toy donations. Over 50 businesses participated, doubling the number of meals and toys distributed. The team also worked with Feeding Northeast Florida to provide families with resources beyond the holiday meal—like information about free grocery stores, nutrition classes, and job training programs—helping address food insecurity year-round. Additionally, the toys collected were sorted to ensure they included items for children with disabilities, a detail that’s often missed in typical toy drives. For the Jacksonville Jaguars, this focus on sustainability ensures their holiday giving doesn’t end when the season does. “We don’t want to just give a toy or a meal and walk away,” Miller said. “We want to connect families to resources that can help them long-term. That’s how we create real, lasting change in the community.”

Holiday Giving Back Efforts Showcased by the Jacksonville Jaguars closes with the broader impact of these efforts on the team’s relationship with the community and its players. For Jaguars players, many of whom grew up in communities facing similar challenges, the giving back efforts are personal. Allen, who grew up in a working-class family in Alabama, noted that he remembers holidays where his family struggled to afford gifts. “This isn’t just a PR move for me,” Allen said. “I’ve been in those kids’ shoes, and I know how much a toy or a meal can mean. It’s an honor to be able to give back to a community that’s given me so much.” For the Jacksonville Jaguars, these holiday efforts are more than just a tradition—they’re a core part of the franchise’s identity. They remind fans that the team is more than just football players; they’re neighbors who care about the community’s well-being. As the holiday season continues, the Jaguars’ giving back efforts will keep spreading joy—but their impact will last long after the decorations come down, strengthening the bond between the team and the city it calls home. “At the end of the day, this is what it’s all about,” Pederson said. “Winning games is great, but making a difference in the lives of people in this community—that’s the legacy we want to leave.”