Game Donations for Soldiers... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

xepherys · 07-19-2008, 08:45 PM

http://www.xepherys.net/wordpress/?p=10

Quote:

As some of you may (or may not) know, I recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan. During that time, I made many wonderful contacts in the computer and gaming sector via email and was able to bring in donations to our unit for gaming and computing (including consoles, components for three full gaming PCs and more games than I could shake a stick at… and I tried). It really did make things more tolerable over there. After a long week of fighting the good fight, it’s nice to be able to kick off your boots and frag your buddy in Halo 3.

Now, more on point, I am beginning a drive for donations to other units in Afghanistan that are related to ours. For as much love as the troops do get these days, sadly troops deployed to Afghanistan are often overlooked due to some odd out of sight, out of mind mentality. My mission now that I’m home is to drum up video game donations to send to these units in areas similar to the one I was in, meaning remote Afghanistan. Currently, across these units I know of many laptops (PC Games, software), a couple of Xbox 360s, at least one PSP and one DS. I’m not currently aware of any PS3s out there, but I’m sure there will be one.

What I’m looking for is your kind donations of new or used video games for the above mentioned systems or hardware that you think they may be willing to use (extra controllers, batteries, memory cards… systems?

). They don’t have to be in GREAT condition, just usable. If anyone is interested, please email me X E P H E R Y S(@)gmail(.)com for more information. Thanks!

xepherys · 07-22-2008, 07:49 AM

Nothin', eh?

Church · 07-22-2008, 12:26 PM

Sorry dude, I just recently traded most of my stuff in, however its a great thing you're doing. I never would have even thought to donate video games. Kudos to you

jorgelito · 07-22-2008, 03:05 PM

Great idea xeph! Although I don't own any video games, I applaud your efforts. Thank you for your service to our country and for your support of others in the service. You might want to try posting in the Veterans thread or Service thread.

I'm actually pretty shocked that so few people have responded to this thread. But then again, we are way left here. Sad.

xepherys · 07-22-2008, 03:33 PM

I'm semi-left (well, rather center, I think) but I'm *IN* the Army. I think even the leftist among us at least support the people, even if not the action. But, maybe I'm wrong. Or maybe we're all too poor. LOL

Willravel · 07-22-2008, 03:44 PM

My DVDs are in Baghdad with a really good friend. I've got them backed up on my external HD, so it's really not a problem.

I think it's just a matter of sending over something to help them remember that we're thinking about them and that might help to give them some relaxation in a situation that's more intense than I can even imagine.

Books, magazines, DVDs, games, etc. all would, I'm sure, be appreciated. Think of it as donating to those in need. No canned veggies...

Edit: This is a good link. The APO, so far, has been extremely helpful to me and to my friends and family.

kurty[B] · 07-22-2008, 08:19 PM

xephyrs, I love this idea. I didn't want to post because I don't have any video games.

Presently being in Iraq, I feel the guys in Afghanistan deserve much more attention then we're giving them, and the games for soldiers is a great idea.

That would go over HUGE here, and I imagine the same for Aghanistan.

If games are too expensive, or lacking, I've seen magazines, homemade jerky, various types of tea and coffee all go over extremely well (hard candies don't).

xephyrs are you specifically looking for games or open to a broader spectrum?

xepherys · 07-22-2008, 08:25 PM

kurty,

If you're in IRaq now, shoot an email to this guy:

Kevin Stewart <iraqgamedrive@gmail.com>

and he can probably send some game-style lovin' your way with a valid APO.

As for this drive, specifically games and gaming hardware. There's a booksforsoldiers and AnySoldier and such already that send food and socks and books and such. But not much in the way of actual entertainment (yes, books ARE entertaining, but it's not quite the same).
-----Added 23/7/2008 at 12 : 26 : 34-----
When I was in the 'ghan we got all of those things, and they were all VERY appreciated. But video games were a nice change of pace now and then...

jorgelito · 07-22-2008, 09:23 PM

Xeph, how does it work? Do the soldiers pass them around or do they take them with them when they come home? How can we reach be most people?

xepherys · 07-23-2008, 06:22 AM

Well, the donations I send out to the soldiers are generally left behind for the next crew who comes. That's the plan at least. Any hardware I've got (systems and such) I request definitely stays at the FOB so that the next group can use it, since obviously they are harder to come by.

I generally try to send boxes to more remote units in Afghanistan. As I said above, Afghanistan gets a lot less attention than Iraq, so those guys are in more need. I go with remote units because they don't have access to a PX most of the time (that's how it was for my unit), so they never have an opportunity to even BUY games when they are available.

Right now I have two boxes about to go out and have stuff for almost a third. Most are PC games, unfortunately, but then almost all soldiers have a laptop of some sort out there, so that works well enough.

If you know anyone else that might have some extra games to donate (new or used) or that might be willing to help cover shipping costs, please let me know. Shipping is $9.10/box (APO Flat Rate) so that can get a little pricey. Still worth shipping the stuff, though.

jorgelito · 07-23-2008, 02:03 PM

I don't game so I don't have anything but I will ask around.

Good luck Xeph and keep us posted and let us know if there are other ways we can help.

07-22-2008, 07:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
xepherys <3 TFP Location: 17TLH2445607250	Nothin', eh? __________________ The prospect of achieving a peace agreement with the extremist group of MILF is almost impossible... -- Emmanuel Pinol, Governor of Cotobato My Homepage

07-22-2008, 12:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
Church Tilted F*ckhead Location: New Jersey	Sorry dude, I just recently traded most of my stuff in, however its a great thing you're doing. I never would have even thought to donate video games. Kudos to you __________________ Through counter-intelligence, it should be possible to pinpoint potential trouble makers, and neutralize them.

07-22-2008, 03:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	Great idea xeph! Although I don't own any video games, I applaud your efforts. Thank you for your service to our country and for your support of others in the service. You might want to try posting in the Veterans thread or Service thread. I'm actually pretty shocked that so few people have responded to this thread. But then again, we are way left here. Sad. __________________ "The race is not always to the swift, nor battle to the strong, but to the one that endures to the end." "Demand more from yourself, more than anyone else could ever ask!" - My recruiter

07-22-2008, 03:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
xepherys <3 TFP Location: 17TLH2445607250	I'm semi-left (well, rather center, I think) but I'm IN the Army. I think even the leftist among us at least support the people, even if not the action. But, maybe I'm wrong. Or maybe we're all too poor. LOL __________________ The prospect of achieving a peace agreement with the extremist group of MILF is almost impossible... -- Emmanuel Pinol, Governor of Cotobato My Homepage

07-22-2008, 08:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
kurty[B] Sauce Puppet	xephyrs, I love this idea. I didn't want to post because I don't have any video games. Presently being in Iraq, I feel the guys in Afghanistan deserve much more attention then we're giving them, and the games for soldiers is a great idea. That would go over HUGE here, and I imagine the same for Aghanistan. If games are too expensive, or lacking, I've seen magazines, homemade jerky, various types of tea and coffee all go over extremely well (hard candies don't). xephyrs are you specifically looking for games or open to a broader spectrum? __________________ In the Absence of Information People Make Things Up.

07-22-2008, 03:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	My DVDs are in Baghdad with a really good friend. I've got them backed up on my external HD, so it's really not a problem. I think it's just a matter of sending over something to help them remember that we're thinking about them and that might help to give them some relaxation in a situation that's more intense than I can even imagine. Books, magazines, DVDs, games, etc. all would, I'm sure, be appreciated. Think of it as donating to those in need. No canned veggies... Edit: This is a good link. The APO, so far, has been extremely helpful to me and to my friends and family.

07-22-2008, 08:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
xepherys <3 TFP Location: 17TLH2445607250	kurty, If you're in IRaq now, shoot an email to this guy: Kevin Stewart <iraqgamedrive@gmail.com> and he can probably send some game-style lovin' your way with a valid APO. As for this drive, specifically games and gaming hardware. There's a booksforsoldiers and AnySoldier and such already that send food and socks and books and such. But not much in the way of actual entertainment (yes, books ARE entertaining, but it's not quite the same). -----Added 23/7/2008 at 12 : 26 : 34----- When I was in the 'ghan we got all of those things, and they were all VERY appreciated. But video games were a nice change of pace now and then... __________________ The prospect of achieving a peace agreement with the extremist group of MILF is almost impossible... -- Emmanuel Pinol, Governor of Cotobato My Homepage Last edited by xepherys; 07-22-2008 at 08:26 PM.. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

07-22-2008, 09:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	Xeph, how does it work? Do the soldiers pass them around or do they take them with them when they come home? How can we reach be most people? __________________ "The race is not always to the swift, nor battle to the strong, but to the one that endures to the end." "Demand more from yourself, more than anyone else could ever ask!" - My recruiter

07-23-2008, 06:22 AM	#10 (permalink)
xepherys <3 TFP Location: 17TLH2445607250	Well, the donations I send out to the soldiers are generally left behind for the next crew who comes. That's the plan at least. Any hardware I've got (systems and such) I request definitely stays at the FOB so that the next group can use it, since obviously they are harder to come by. I generally try to send boxes to more remote units in Afghanistan. As I said above, Afghanistan gets a lot less attention than Iraq, so those guys are in more need. I go with remote units because they don't have access to a PX most of the time (that's how it was for my unit), so they never have an opportunity to even BUY games when they are available. Right now I have two boxes about to go out and have stuff for almost a third. Most are PC games, unfortunately, but then almost all soldiers have a laptop of some sort out there, so that works well enough. If you know anyone else that might have some extra games to donate (new or used) or that might be willing to help cover shipping costs, please let me know. Shipping is $9.10/box (APO Flat Rate) so that can get a little pricey. Still worth shipping the stuff, though. __________________ The prospect of achieving a peace agreement with the extremist group of MILF is almost impossible... -- Emmanuel Pinol, Governor of Cotobato My Homepage

07-23-2008, 02:03 PM	#11 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	I don't game so I don't have anything but I will ask around. Good luck Xeph and keep us posted and let us know if there are other ways we can help. __________________ "The race is not always to the swift, nor battle to the strong, but to the one that endures to the end." "Demand more from yourself, more than anyone else could ever ask!" - My recruiter