Gamers Support our Troops

Ah, Independence Day. For the majority of us, July 4 involves little more risk than hotdogs and fireworks. For the soldiers in Iraq, however, it involves much more.

This is not a discussion about politics. Regardless of your political views, the soldiers there are in great need of your support. I’m not going to go into a heavy-handed speech about how the troops give their lives, and the importance of civic duties, but let July 4 remind you that there are people out there fighting for your country.

So on this eve of our Independence Day, here are a few ways you, as a gamer, can help from the comfort of your chair.

http://www.booksforsoldiers.com/index.php
A site for sending care packages for troops overseas. Send your used books, DVDs, video games, and a variety of other items to a soldier.

http://soldiersangels.org/
“Adopt” a specific soldier, sending care packages, and a variety of other useful items.

http://www.laptopsforthewounded.com/
A site looking for used laptops (preferably with webcams) to wounded soldiers, so they will be able to communicate with loved ones during recovery.

http://adoptaplatoon.org/new/
If “Adopting” a soldier is too specific, adopt an entire platoon.

http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou/help.html
The official US soldier support site, listing a multitude of various troop donation charities.

So grab those used GameBoys, that PSP collecting dust on your shelf, and send them to a needing soldier. If none of these charities are for you, there are literally hundreds of other sites you can use to support our troops. All you have to do is care enough to look.