Holiday Giving Back Efforts Highlighted by the New York Jets

As the holiday season unfolds across New York, the New York Jets have once again stepped into the community to spread joy and support families in need—continuing a decades-long tradition of holiday giving that has become a cornerstone of the team’s identity off the field. This year, the Jets’ efforts span three key initiatives: a region-wide food drive, a toy collection for underserved children, and special visits to local hospitals and homeless shelters. Holiday Giving Back Efforts Highlighted by the New York Jets showcases how players, coaches, and team staff are donating time, resources, and energy to make the season brighter for those facing hardship. For Jets fans and community members alike, these efforts are a powerful reminder that the team’s impact extends far beyond the football field.

Holiday Giving Back Efforts Highlighted by the New York Jets begins with the team’s flagship holiday initiative: the “Jets Holiday Food Drive,” now in its 18th year. In partnership with local food banks Feeding Westchester and City Harvest, the Jets set up collection bins at 15 locations across New York—including MetLife Stadium, Jets Pro Shop stores, and select grocery chains—inviting fans to donate non-perishable items like canned vegetables, pasta, and peanut butter. Through the first two weeks of December, the drive has already collected over 60,000 pounds of food, enough to provide more than 50,000 meals to families struggling with food insecurity. Several Jets players, including quarterback Zach Wilson and defensive tackle Jowon Briggs, volunteered at food bank distribution centers, helping sort donations and pack meal boxes. “This is what the holidays are all about—coming together to lift up those who need it most,” Wilson said during a visit to a City Harvest warehouse. “We’re lucky to have this platform, and it’s our responsibility to use it to help our community.” The food drive also includes a monetary donation from the Jets Foundation, which will fund 10,000 additional meals for families in the Bronx and Brooklyn—two boroughs hit hard by rising food costs.

A heartwarming focus of Holiday Giving Back Efforts Highlighted by the New York Jets is the team’s “Toys for Tots” partnership, which aims to ensure every child in the community has a gift to open on Christmas. The Jets hosted a toy collection event at MetLife Stadium earlier this month, where fans could drop off new, unwrapped toys in exchange for a free ticket to a 2026 preseason game. Players like wide receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner were on hand to greet fans, pose for photos, and help load toys into donation trucks. By the end of the event, the Jets had collected over 12,000 toys, which will be distributed to children through local organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and New York Cares. The team also organized a “Toy Wrapping Party” at their training facility, where coaches, staff, and players’ families gathered to wrap gifts and write personalized notes for each child. “I remember what it was like to look forward to Christmas morning as a kid,” Gardner said. “No child should have to go without that excitement. Being able to help make that happen is one of the best parts of being a Jet.”

Holiday Giving Back Efforts Highlighted by the New York Jets also shines a light on the team’s hospital visits, which bring holiday cheer to young patients facing medical challenges. Jets players and cheerleaders visited three local children’s hospitals—NYU Langone Children’s Hospital, Cohen Children’s Medical Center, and Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital—spending time with kids, signing autographs, and delivering gift bags filled with toys, games, and Jets memorabilia. Defensive end Justin Houston, a father of two, led a mini “football clinic” in one hospital’s playroom, helping kids practice throwing and catching with soft footballs. “These kids are so brave, fighting through tough times with so much positivity,” Houston said. “If we can take their minds off treatments for even an hour and make them smile, that’s a win bigger than any game.” For the New York Jets, these hospital visits are personal: many players have shared stories of family members who faced illness, and they see the events as a way to give back to the healthcare workers and families who support the community. Hospital staff noted that the Jets’ visits are among the most anticipated events of the year, with kids often counting down days until the players arrive.

Another meaningful aspect of Holiday Giving Back Efforts Highlighted by the New York Jets is the team’s support for homeless shelters, which often see increased need during the cold winter months. The Jets donated 500 winter coats, 1,000 pairs of gloves, and 800 hats to shelters in Manhattan and Newark, working with the organization New York Common Pantry to distribute the items. Players like linebacker C.J. Mosley and tight end Tyler Conklin volunteered at a Newark shelter, helping hand out coats and serving hot meals to residents. “Winter is a tough time for people without stable housing,” Mosley said. “A warm coat or a hot meal might seem small, but it can make a huge difference in someone’s day. We’re grateful to be able to help in any way we can.” The Jets Foundation also made a $25,000 donation to the shelter to support its meal program throughout the holiday season. For the New York Jets, this initiative reflects their commitment to addressing systemic issues in the community, not just providing temporary relief. “Giving back isn’t just a holiday tradition for us—it’s a year-round priority,” said Jets team president Hymie Elhai. “We want to be a partner to our community, supporting those in need through both good times and hard times.”

Looking ahead, Holiday Giving Back Efforts Highlighted by the New York Jets outlines the team’s plans to expand its holiday initiatives next year. The Jets aim to add two new food drive locations in Long Island and upstate New York, and they’re exploring a “Holiday Adopt-a-Family” program, where players and staff would sponsor local families in need by providing meals, gifts, and household essentials. The team also hopes to partner with local schools to launch a “Holiday Book Drive,” donating children’s books to classrooms and libraries in low-income areas. “Every year, we try to find new ways to make a bigger impact,” Elhai said. “Our fans and community support us so much throughout the season, and these holiday efforts are our way of saying thank you.” For the New York Jets, the holiday giving isn’t just about donations—it’s about building connections with the community, strengthening the bond between the team and the people it represents. As the season comes to a close, the Jets’ holiday efforts serve as a reminder that football is more than a sport; it’s a way to unite and support the community.

Holiday Giving Back Efforts Highlighted by the New York Jets is ultimately a story of community, compassion, and teamwork. The Jets’ players, coaches, and staff have come together to make the holiday season brighter for thousands of people, showing that the team’s values of hard work and unity extend far beyond the gridiron. For fans, these efforts are a source of pride, knowing that the team they cheer for is also working to make a positive difference in the lives of others. As the holidays continue, the New York Jets’ giving back efforts will leave a lasting impact—spreading joy, hope, and warmth to those who need it most, and reinforcing the team’s place as an integral part of the New York community.