Robert Kraft and these three Patriots players were in Fall River. Here's why.

FALL RIVER — Several Patriots players, along with team owner Robert Kraft and Massachusetts First Lady Lauren Baker, were in Fall River on Wednesday celebrating the reopening of a renovated home for young adults.

“Residents, I hope you love this,” Baker said to the young people who live there. “It’s for you, and you deserve it.”

The New England Patriots Foundation, Bob’s Discount Furniture, Old Colony YMCA and the Wonderfund all contributed to renovating and refurnishing a house operated by the Old Colony YMCA on Lincoln Avenue. The residence is home to up to seven young people aged 18 through 22 who are engaged with the Department of Children and Families system and is staffed around the clock with employees.

Wonderfund is a private nonprofit that works with DCF to help children who have survived abuse and other traumatic situations.

The day that changed the Flint forever: Fall River lost Notre Dame Church to fire 40 years ago

Why were Patriots players in Fall River

Representatives from each organization involved gathered for a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Wednesday, including Patriots players Kendrick Bourne, Malcolm Butler and Ty Montgomery.

Kraft said during the ribbon cutting that projects like this one are important to “the future of the country and things being equalized” and to giving disadvantaged young people a fair chance at success.

Patriots players worked on renovations

A handful of Patriots players actually helped do the renovations, he said.

Baker, who is a vice chair of Wonderfund, said they and DCF strive to make their residences trauma-informed environments.

“You’ll see when you walk into the house, as soon as you go in, stress goes down,” she said. “It feels safe, it is comfortable, it is beautiful.”

Untested rape kits: A thousand Bristol County rape kits were never tested. Here's why the DA is changing that

Ty Montgomery had foster siblings

Montgomery, who signed with the Patriots in March, said he loved the idea of having the young people involved living in a group setting that looks a lot like a typical home, as they prepare to transition into living on their own.

“It’s cool to see transitional housing. I’ve never seen this before,” he said.

Local sports: Vote for the Herald News High School Baseball Player of the Week for May 2-7

Issues surrounding foster care and child welfare are personal for Montgomery. Growing up in Dallas, he had at least 17 foster siblings, he said. His mom has since started her own foster care organization, and Montgomery has worked closely with groups aimed at improving the lives of children in the foster care system in Dallas and when he played in Green Bay.

All but one of his foster siblings were boys.

“They’re still my brothers to this day,” he said.

Audrey Cooney can be reached at acooney@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News today.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Patriots players visit newly reopened DCF home in Fall River