“Take the family down there and make a donation”: How Travis Kelce’s mother Donna Kelce and Tammy Reid helped bring Christmas cheer to families in need

Travis Kelce used his platform as a Kansas City Chiefs star to encourage fans to help families in need during the holiday season. His mother, Donna Kelce, also stepped forward for a charitable cause in Kansas City, joining Tammy Reid, the wife of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, for the launch of the Light the World Giving Machines in November 2023.The initiative gave people a simple way to donate essential items to local and global charities. Rather than buying something for themselves, visitors could use the red vending machines to help someone else enjoy a better Christmas. How Donna Kelce and Tammy Reid helped launch Kansas City’s holiday charity driveOn Nov. 21, 2023, Donna Kelce and Tammy Reid took part in the unveiling of the Giving Machines at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri. The machines returned to the city for the third consecutive year, offering residents another way to support families and individuals who needed help during the holidays.Donna, who is also the mother of former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, had stayed in Kansas City after watching her sons face each other in the Chiefs-Eagles game on November 20. Her appearance at Union Station gave the NFL community another reason to connect her name with charitable work.The event brought together the Chiefs community and a wider effort organised through the Light the World campaign, which The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints facilitated. The Kansas City machines supported seven local charities and two global organisations.The local beneficiaries included Foster Adopt Connect, Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care, reStart, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City, the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Fund, Science City and Westside Community Action Network.The choices covered different needs across the community. Visitors could donate meals, winter clothing, medical equipment and other essential items. The available options ranged from $3 to $150, allowing people to choose a gift that suited their budget. What Travis Kelce said about making Christmas better for familiesWhile Donna Kelce and Tammy Reid took part in the Kansas City launch, Travis Kelce helped spread the word through a promotional video shared by the Giving Machines Kansas City Instagram account in November 2023.“Check out the Giving Machine. It’s a big red box. You cannot miss it. Make sure you take the family down there and make a donation. Make someone else’s Christmas or holidays that much better. And, as always, go Chiefs, baby,” Travis said in the video.His message encouraged families to visit the machines and contribute to the campaign. It also showed how the Chiefs’ reach extended beyond football, with players and their families helping bring attention to a local charitable effort.The machines worked like cash-free vending machines. Visitors swiped a payment card, selected an item and paid for it on behalf of someone in need. According to KSHB's report, all donations went towards gifts specific to the participating charities.Kansas City was one of 61 cities across seven countries that hosted Giving Machines during the 2023 holiday season. The machines offered a practical way for people to support charities without needing to organise a separate donation themselves.For Donna Kelce and Tammy Reid, the Union Station appearance helped launch the local effort. Travis Kelce’s message encouraged fans to join in, turning a simple holiday visit into an opportunity to help others.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.