On a bright afternoon in Los Angeles, Patrick Mahomes stepped out of a convenience store, the sun glinting off his athletic frame. He was in a good mood, having just picked up a few snacks after a workout. As he made his way to his car, he heard a small voice calling out to him from the side of the entrance.
“Excuse me, sir,” the boy said hesitantly, clutching a crumpled dollar bill in his hand. He couldn’t have been older than ten, and the oversized baseball cap on his head cast a shadow over his nervous eyes. “Can I borrow $5? My mom’s sick, and I need to get her some medicine.”
Patrick froze, the boy’s words catching him completely off guard. Slowly, he turned toward the child, his towering presence making the young boy look even smaller. The boy stood there anxiously, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, his gaze fixed on Patrick’s face.
“What’s your name, big man?” Patrick asked, crouching down to the boy’s level, his voice soft and warm.
“Tyler,” the boy replied, gripping the dollar bill tightly as if it were his lifeline.
“Nice to meet you, Tyler. I’m Patrick,” he said with a gentle smile. “Now tell me, what’s going on with your mom?”
Tyler’s small shoulders rose and fell as he let out a shaky breath. “She’s really sick,” he said quietly. “She’s been coughing a lot and is really tired all the time. I want to help her, but I don’t have enough money. I’ve been saving my allowance, but it’s only a dollar. I need five more to buy her medicine.”
Patrick felt a pang of compassion as he listened. He could see the worry in Tyler’s eyes, the way his little hands trembled as he held out his dollar. It wasn’t just the request for help that struck Patrick; it was the fact that this young boy was carrying such a heavy burden, doing his best to take care of his mom.
“You’re a good kid, Tyler,” Patrick said, nodding firmly. “You care about your mom, and that’s what matters. But you know what? You don’t have to do this alone. Let’s take care of this together.”
Tyler’s eyes widened, a flicker of hope breaking through his nervous expression. “Really?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Really,” Patrick replied with a grin. “Come on, show me where the medicine is.”
Hand in hand, Patrick and Tyler walked back into the store. Other shoppers turned their heads as they entered, recognizing Patrick immediately. Whispers rippled through the aisles, but Patrick’s focus was entirely on Tyler, who led him toward the pharmacy section.
“This is it,” Tyler said, pointing to a small bottle of cough syrup on the shelf. “It’s for my mom’s cough. I saw it the other day, but it costs $6, and I only have one.”
Patrick picked up the bottle, turning it over in his massive hand as he read the label. “This is a good start,” he said, “but if your mom’s not feeling well, she might need more than just this. Let’s grab a few other things too.”
Tyler’s jaw dropped as Patrick began adding items to the basket: cold medicine, vitamins, tissues, and even a small hot water bottle. “Wait,” Tyler said, tugging gently at Patrick’s sleeve. “Isn’t this too much? I just needed the cough syrup.”
Patrick chuckled softly. “Don’t worry about that, big man. I’ve got it covered. Your job is to take care of your mom, and my job is to take care of you.”
As they made their way to the checkout counter, Patrick noticed Tyler glancing longingly at a small display of flowers near the register. They were a simple bouquet, bright and cheerful, wrapped in colorful paper.
“You like those?” Patrick asked, nodding toward the flowers.
Tyler hesitated before nodding. “Yeah, I think they’d make my mom smile, but it’s okay. We don’t need them.”
Patrick shook his head, a grin spreading across his face. “No way! We’re getting the flowers too.”
By the time they reached the cashier, the basket was overflowing with items. Tyler stared at the growing total on the screen, his eyes wide. “That’s so much money,” he murmured.
“Don’t worry about the price,” Patrick said, handing his card to the cashier. “I’ve got it. Your mom deserves this, and so do you.”
As they stepped out of the store, Tyler’s arms were full. Patrick had even thrown in a few snacks for him, knowing the boy likely hadn’t thought of himself during all of this.
“Here’s the plan,” Patrick said as they walked toward his car. “I’ll drive you home, and we’ll make sure your mom gets all this. Sound good?”
Tyler hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Okay. Thank you, Mr. Patrick.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Tyler,” Patrick said with a smile. “This is what we’re supposed to do—help each other out.”
When they arrived at Tyler’s house, a small, modest home in a quiet neighborhood, Patrick carried the bags inside. Tyler’s mom was resting on the couch, her face pale and tired, but her eyes widened in surprise when she saw Patrick walk through the door.
“Ma’am, I’m Patrick Mahomes,” he said warmly. “Your son Tyler is an incredible kid. He wanted to help you, so we picked up a few things to make sure you’re taken care of.”
Tears filled the woman’s eyes as she looked at the bags of medicine and supplies. “I—I don’t even know what to say,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
Patrick crouched down beside her, his expression kind. “You already said it. Just get better for Tyler, okay? He needs you.”
As Patrick prepared to leave, Tyler ran up to him and hugged him tightly. “Thank you, Mr. Patrick,” he said, his voice muffled against Patrick’s chest. “You’re the best.”
Patrick smiled, patting the boy gently on the back. “You’re the real hero here, Tyler. You take care of your mom, all right?”
Later that evening, Patrick shared the story with a few close friends. He didn’t post about it online, but someone at the store had taken a photo of him and Tyler walking through the aisles. The image went viral, capturing hearts around the world.
Patrick reminded everyone what it means to look out for each other. “This is the kind of story we need more of—people helping people, no strings attached,” one commenter wrote.
For Patrick, it wasn’t about the attention; it was about a young boy named Tyler who reminded him of the power of love, determination, and a simple act of kindness. As Patrick Mahomes left Tyler’s home, the warmth of the boy’s gratitude lingered in his heart. But as much as he had already done, Patrick couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more he could do for the family.
Tyler’s mother’s frailty and the modest state of their home spoke volumes about the challenges they were facing. Patrick pulled out his phone as he got into his car and made a few calls. First, he contacted a local medical clinic to ensure that Tyler’s mother could receive a full health evaluation free of charge. Then he reached out to a friend who specialized in home repairs, asking them to assess and improve the family’s living conditions.
“Make it comfortable for them,” Patrick instructed. “They shouldn’t have to worry about anything for a while.”
The next morning, Patrick decided to visit the family again, this time with a few surprises in tow. When he arrived, Tyler was playing in the yard, his face lighting up as soon as he spotted Patrick’s car.
“Mr. Patrick!” Tyler shouted, running to greet him.
“Hey, champ,” Patrick said, stepping out of the car with a large box in his hands. “I thought I’d swing by and check on you and your mom.”
Tyler grinned as he opened the box, revealing a brand new tablet. “This is for me?” he asked, his eyes wide with excitement.
“You bet,” Patrick said with a smile. “Now you can keep up with schoolwork, watch some fun stuff, and even help your mom if she needs anything.”
Tyler’s mom appeared at the door, leaning on the frame for support. “Mr. Mahomes,” she said softly, her voice still weak but filled with gratitude. “You didn’t have to come back. You’ve already done so much.”
Patrick shook his head. “Ma’am, Tyler is an incredible kid, and I want to make sure he has everything he needs. And that means making sure you’re taken care of too.”
As they spoke, a team of workers arrived, carrying supplies for repairs and renovations. Tyler’s mom watched in stunned silence as Patrick explained his plan to fix the leaking roof, repaint the walls, and install a new heating system.
“We’ll also stock the pantry and take care of anything else you need,” Patrick added. “You focus on getting better.”
Tears streamed down her face as she looked at Tyler, who was clutching his new tablet with a radiant smile. “I don’t even have the words to thank you,” she said, her voice trembling.
Patrick placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Just promise me you’ll take care of yourself and this little guy,” he said, glancing down at Tyler.
In the days that followed, news of Patrick’s generosity spread throughout the community. Neighbors who had once kept to themselves began stepping up, offering meals, assistance, and even babysitting services for Tyler. The photo of Patrick and Tyler from the convenience store had gone viral, inspiring people from all over the world to help families in need in their own communities.
For Patrick, the experience was a reminder of why he chose to give back. “It’s not about what you have,” he said in an interview later. “It’s about what you can do for others. Sometimes the smallest gesture can change someone’s entire world.”
Tyler’s mom made a steady recovery thanks to the medical care Patrick arranged. With their home repaired and their financial worries eased, she began volunteering at a local shelter, determined to pay the kindness
Patrick Mahomes Visits a Handful of Kids and Insists Their Dreams are Within Reach
Mahomes stopped by the St. Mark Child and Family Development Center on Wednesday
It was no ordinary morning for the kids at the St. Mark Child and Family Development Center on Wednesday, as Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes stopped by to read a book, work on an art project and ultimately pass on some lessons about life.
The visit, which was made possible through a partnership with Coca-Cola, was just an example of how Mahomes intends to pay it forward in Kansas City.
“It’s always awesome to get back out in the community and to help kids in any way possible,” Mahomes explained. “I remember when I was a little kid and my dad was in the big leagues, it meant so much to me to meet his friends and his teammates. For me to do that now on this stage is an awesome feeling.”
Mahomes’ father played 13 years in Major League Baseball, allowing Patrick to experience the childhood thrill of meeting a professional athlete firsthand. Now in that position himself, Mahomes has a chance to do the same thing for others.
“It had a huge impact on me,” Mahomes said. “I still think about it today…just watching those guys and their work ethic but also seeing how good of people they were. They just worked hard and got to where they were, and I hope I can teach those same things to other kids.”
It’s that mindset that made Mahomes the clear choice when Coca-Cola, one of the Chiefs’ partners, was deciding who should visit the school.
“We looked at some of the players that were on the team and really believed strongly that Patrick represents our brand,” said Rick Frazier, the President and COO of Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company. “That’s from the standpoint of his community involvement, how he carries himself and the bright future that he has – not just as a Chief – but as a young man.”
Those traits were on full display on Wednesday, as Mahomes visited several classrooms before reading a children’s book about diversity to a handful of kids. He also helped lead an art project before enjoying some chocolate milk to finish up a special morning.
“Hopefully, they see me and they see someone that they can be,” Mahomes said. “I’m just a regular guy that went to school, did these same things and listened to athletes read to me before I got to this point. I hope they can see that and will think that they can achieve whatever they dream, if that’s a football player or just a great businessman, husband, wife or whatever they want to be, they can achieve those dreams.”
That sentiment was felt loud and clear throughout the visit.
“Having somebody like Patrick here taking time out of his day just to spend some time with them is just showing them that there are people that care,” said Deidre Anderson, the Executive Director of United Inner City Services. “Just like he’s probably overcame some life circumstances, they can do the same.”
And for Mahomes, it’s just the beginning of how he plans to carry himself throughout his time in the red and gold.
“Since Day 1, Kansas City has treated me so well,” Mahomes said. “Giving back is something that I’ve always felt that I needed to do and I’m going to keep doing it.”
