Mahomes, Kelce & Chiefs Launch “1000 Free Meals for KC” to Feed the City Before Monday Night Showdown

Kansas City, Missouri
After weeks of criticism surrounding the sky-high prices and lukewarm reviews of 1587 Prime, the upscale steakhouse owned by Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, the two are turning headlines into hope. Partnering directly with the Chiefs organization, Mahomes and Kelce announced a new community effort: the “1000 Free Meals for KC” campaign, set to take place ahead of Monday night’s Week 8 matchup against the Washington Commanders at Arrowhead Stadium.

The initiative will provide one thousand freshly prepared meals to residents across downtown Kansas City and the Independence Avenue corridor. Staff from 1587 Prime will team up with the Chiefs’ community-relations department and local volunteers to cook and distribute the meals on game day.

“Football teaches us that real wins don’t always come on the scoreboard,” Mahomes said in a statement released Thursday. “Kansas City has given us so much. This is a chance to serve the people who make this city feel like home.”

The effort follows a wave of social-media backlash after diners complained about 1587 Prime’s prices — including $165 rib-eyes and $16 sides — and service inconsistencies during its first month of operation. Rather than fire back, Mahomes and Kelce chose to channel that attention into something tangible for the community.

Chiefs president Mark Donovan praised the gesture, noting that it reflects the organization’s broader commitment to Kansas City. “This city is our family,” Donovan said. “When part of that family faces criticism or tough headlines, the right response is to stand together and do something positive. This collaboration shows who we are on and off the field.”

For Kelce, the project is both personal and symbolic. “We heard the feedback,” he said. “Instead of talking about bad reviews, we’d rather serve good food to people who need it. If one meal makes someone’s day better, that’s the kind of win we care about.”

The Chiefs’ charitable arm will coordinate logistics with local shelters and youth programs, ensuring the meals reach families most in need. Distribution is expected to begin Monday afternoon, just hours before kickoff.

Coming off a shutout win over the Raiders and sitting at 4-3 in the AFC West, Kansas City enters Week 8 hoping for momentum both on the field and in the community. The timing of the initiative feels deliberate — a reminder that the city’s champions aim to deliver more than touchdowns.

For a team and two superstars accustomed to prime-time lights, 1587 Prime is finding a new way to live up to its name: not with luxury dining, but with generosity that tastes a lot more like Kansas City.