There’s an urban legend about a group of soldiers in Iraq who, while driving their Humvee, hit an IED. The men somehow survived but rather than reflect on their physical injuries, they inexplicably took greater pains in the loss of their D&D gear.
RPG materials are one of the few personal things our troops can easily carry in their packs. These items come in handy during the many, many hours of downtime between fighting for our safety and freedom.
This story moved Ben. It struck a real chord. He gets to sit at home and fantasize about amazing battles with monsters of all sorts. Yet somewhere, very far away…there are scores of people he’s never met that protect his rights and his family.
So, Ben rallied around many of his friends and met lots of new people who also felt these brave men and women needed to be thanked. We started G.I. Cares – a care package initiative with a twist. We box up all the important troop necessities but also mix in D&D, RPG and other game materials into each care package.
After eight months of planning and gathering, we’re finally on the eve of sending our first box run over to the Middle East (nearly a 100 boxes in all). And Ben has umpteen volunteers and contributors to thank including Gamers Inn, Empowerment Financial Group, Cramer-Krasselt and ASU AMA.
No words or actions will ever really be enough to thank our veterans but maybe these care packages (in their own little way) will just help demonstrate how much we really do care.
Pack a Box | Game Store Poster 1 | Game Store Poster 2
November 11th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Ben this is fantastic. You are an inspiration in so many ways…
There is so much more our community can do to help out–I recently contacted Gamers for Humanity to see if our D&D Encounters Group could work with them to collect cash, game supplies, etc to help with disaster areas–but they are a small group that does not seem all that organized–like they did not have an on boarding package that I could use to get started.
It would be awesome if WotC would set up some kind of Giving Drive for the entire gaming community this holiday season–I think I will ask them if they are in a position to do that right now.
November 11th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Thanks tons for posting this and providing the links.
November 11th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
Our pleasure – the real key was to find a partner that would take care of shipping for us (the largest expense).
People are more than welcome to pack a box and send it to us to include with our larger shipments. If people e-mail us, we’ll then supply the proper mailing information.
The hardest part is acquiring the game supplies so we’re hoping the #dnd community might rally around a bit and help us out. What gamer doesn’t have a book or two that just taking up shelf space now? Guys over seas would cherish it.
Thanks again.
November 12th, 2010 at 8:32 am
I just wanted to say thanksat least for a mind blasting stuff.
November 22nd, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Just wanted to leave a big thank you for doing this. I am a former Marine of 9 years who is back over here as a civilian employee. I am currently involved in trying to start my own campaign with some of the military members over here. I was deployed twice before and always there is a lock of RPG materials over here. I believe this is a great initiative and give thanks to all who donate.