Gaming for Good: How Gamers Can Support Charitable Causes

I am extremely lucky to be able to spend my spare time writing and talking about video and board games I play with my children, and what games I play on my own to recharge my batteries from the stresses in my life. I don't take that for granted and know that the 'stress' I face pales in comparison to many other parents and gamers out there.

Video games have come a long way since their inception, from being seen as a mere hobby to now being a mainstream form of entertainment. However, the gaming community is not just about entertainment; it can also be a powerful force for good. Gaming for good is a concept that has been gaining popularity, where gamers can use their skills and platform to support charitable causes. In todays post, I explore some of the ways gamers can use their passion for gaming to raise funds and awareness for good causes.

Game-Related Charities

There are several game-related charities that gamers can support to make a positive impact. These charities use gaming as a means to support various causes, such as supporting children's hospitals, disaster relief efforts, and more. Here are some of the game-related charities that gamers can support:

1. Get Well Gamers: Get Well Gamers is a charity organisation that collects and donates video games and consoles to children's hospitals and other healthcare facilities to help kids cope with the stress and boredom of long-term hospital stays. The organisation was founded in 2001 by a group of gamers who wanted to share their love of gaming with children who were hospitalised. https://getwellgamers.org.uk
2. SpecialEffect: SpecialEffect is a UK-based charity organization that is dedicated to helping people with physical disabilities enjoy video games. This includes custom gaming setups that are tailored to each individual's specific needs, such as modified controllers or eye-tracking technology. The organisation also provides training and support for healthcare professionals and game developers to help them better understand how to create accessible games and gaming experiences. https://www.specialeffect.org.uk
3. Extra Life: Extra Life is a gaming charity that supports Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Gamers can participate in a 24-hour gaming marathon to raise funds for their local children's hospital. https://www.extra-life.org
4. AbleGamers: AbleGamers is a nonprofit organization that aims to improve the lives of people with disabilities through video games. The organization provides custom gaming setups and assists in game accessibility for people with disabilities. https://ablegamers.org
5. Take This: Take This is a mental health nonprofit organization that supports gamers and game developers. The organization provides mental health resources and promotes mental health awareness in the gaming community. https://www.takethis.org
6. Games Done Quick: Games Done Quick is a bi-annual charity gaming marathon that raises funds for various charities, including Doctors Without Borders and Prevent Cancer Foundation. https://gamesdonequick.com

Ideas to Game for Good

Gamers with an audience or platform can use their reach to support charitable causes, but you don't have to have hundeds of followers to make a difference, sure it helps with the first point, but even a small stream for friends and family can spread awareness and generate some much needed funding for a great cause. Here are some other ideas on how gamers can use their platform for good:

1. Livestream for Charity: Gamers can use platforms such as Twitch or YouTube to host a charity livestream. During the stream, viewers can donate to the chosen charity, and the gamer can incentivize donations by setting challenges or goals.
2. Participate in Charity Events: Gamers can participate in charity events, such as marathons or tournaments, to raise funds for charitable causes.
3. Promote Charitable Causes: Gamers can use their social media platforms to raise awareness for charitable causes. They can share information about the charity, their mission, and ways to support them.
4. Auction Off Game-Related Items: Gamers can auction off game-related items, such as signed merchandise or in-game items, and donate the proceeds to charity.
5. Create Game Mods for Charity: Gamers can create custom game mods and donate the proceeds to charity.

Gaming for good is a growing trend that shows how the gaming community can use its platform and skills to support charitable causes. Gamers can support game-related charities or use their platform to raise funds and awareness for good causes. With the ever-growing popularity of gaming, the potential impact of gaming for good is enormous.

I for one will feature and make a donation to a great cause focused around children, gaming and health each and every video I post on YouTube. This guarantees Plasmids 'N' Kids can help make a difference and game for good even if the channel never reaches many people, and that is enough for me and my kids.

The above lists are just the tip of the iceberg. Please leave a comment with details of other good causes and ideas to game for good in the comments, or even better inspire myself and others with stories of your previous efforts, I'd love to hear about them.