Gamers Nationwide to Collect Consoles, Video Games for U.S. Troops
Events Across the U.S. Will Raise Funds to Distribute on Veterans Day
LOS ANGELES – Sept. 11, 2012 – Parties organized by gamers across America this fall will raise funds to send video games and consoles to U.S. troops deployed to Afghanistan. The events, part of Operation Supply Drop’s national Veteran’s Day “8-Bit Salute to Veterans,” will be held in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New York City on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012. Gamers everywhere are invited to participate.
Captain Stephen "Shanghai Six" Machuga, a former Army Airborne Ranger, founded Operation Supply Drop in Nov. 2010, after serving for eight years with the US Army, including 13 months in Iraq. An avid video game player himself, Machuga realized that many soldiers who are gamers don’t have access to their favorite form of entertainment, one of the few types of leisure activity permitted in high threat areas of deployment.
“When soldiers aren't outside the wire on patrol, they're playing video games,” explains Machuga. “Our packages are an immeasurable morale booster for the soldiers; troops are accustomed to getting care packages from strangers full of baby wipes and socks. Our care packages are designed to blow their socks off."
Since the charity’s establishment, Operation Supply Drop has raised more than $60,000 in games and gear each with an average value of $2,000 to units deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan.
With the help of a variety of allied gaming organizations, Operation Supply Drop’s “8-Bit Salute to Veterans” will be one of the country’s largest efforts undertaken in support of Veteran’s Day. Please see Operation Supply Drop for details about groups you can join on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012 and for further information.
