Veterans were helped from Veterans Affairs Bureau Adapt to work-life challenges for years. However, employees on the department’s suicide crisis line and other workers who took the phone call were among those who were recently fired for a federal workforce purging.
Over 2% of VA’s probation workforce It was rejected in recent weeks. Stephen Machuga, Founder and CEO I’ll stack itmilitary-focused charities centered around a common love for video games, don’t know how it will shake.
However, Machuga hopes that society will not forget the contributions of veterans to the country and the sacrifices of years of sacrifice.
Stackups help service members fight the effects of combat injuries, depression and post-traumatic stress through the benefits of the game. Charity initiatives include Stacking overwatch programsproviding 24-hour mental health counseling and support for active military personnel, veterans and civilians as they deal with personal struggles.
Stack Up’s 10th anniversary comes in November this year. Machuga is trying to reach as many people as possible. He attended a recent dice summit and helped drum up stacking and veteran support.
“That’s frustrating. Like many in the gaming industry, we’re contracted,” he said. “We spread during Covid. We got money in. Then the money stopped coming in. We had to close our Florida warehouse for the supply box program. We got to a place where we were spending responsibly. We’re spending within the means, but that’s not that fun.”
He pointed out that the support was slipping.
“Every year, we are increasingly away from 9/11 and people aren’t as supportive of the military as they used to,” Machuga said. “We’re trying to get as many meetings as possible, talk to people and let them know that they’re still doing a good job.”
In the past, Xbox and PlayStation game consoles were sent overseas and stacked in places where US soldiers were deployed in the combat zone. Now that war and overseas deployments have cooled, work has changed more to supporting fighters who are still struggling to get home. These days, stacking sends veterans to places like “geek culture” events and Disneyland.
It’s a grassroots effort, in contrast to those that have support from many large companies. And it connects the veterans themselves through a common love for video games.
“Gaming becomes a very important part of the conversation, because many of the 9/11 veterans are gamers. You know, male and female veterans between the ages of 21-35 are all gamers. It’s not this weird thing anymore. Everyone is doing it now. That’s why games, online gaming, online gaming, online gaming communities are a lot of ways to maintain connections with the people these people and the people that gals have served.”
Those still unfolding use the game to maintain connections with friends and family. It is one of the keys to suicide prevention. Make sure no one is isolated.
“We need to make sure people feel part of something. When you’re in the military, you’re part of something bigger than you. That’s the way of thinking about high school football teams. And a lot of these veterans come out of the military and they’re doing tough jobs somewhere. They’ve left friends in the military. Sometimes they feel their best days are behind them.”
In the name of suicide prevention, Machuga wants to be part of a community where veterans are engaged, happy and happy, and that they feel part of something. And he believes positive goodwill and mental health come with playing games and connecting through online games.
Sadly, it appears that it is declining as the economy becomes unpredictable. Donations are declining and people often don’t have extra money for charity. Giving was stronger during the pandemic. But now it’s common to see people do multiple jobs and launch GoFundMe campaigns for health reasons, he said. In 2024, Stackup donations fell 20% to $830,000.
“The economy is down, so donations are falling, and we are struggling with that,” Machuga said.
Earlier last year, Stack Up surpassed more than 60,000 veterans supported through all programs over the past decade. Last year, veteran support was received 1,500 requests, and the charity only supported around 250 people.
“It was a good run. It’s a good news story and it’s comforting to know that we know that people are still alive. “We have a community where someone comes to our discrepancies and they have a bad day and we have to talk to someone or actively save people’s lives. That feels good.”
Within the formal program, Stack Up still offers consoles for those deployed abroad and those who are recovering when they return home. The group will make veterans worthy of veterans on a variety of games and nerdy cultural events, theme parks, or studio tours such as Riot Games and Blizzard. Dozens of “stacks” have veterans going out to volunteer in the community. And then there’s the Overwatch Program, Discord’s peer-to-peer suicide prevention team. The group is headquartered in Los Angeles in a mansion that has been renovated into a community center for homeless veterans.
The main fundraising opportunities are May Anniversary, Military Appreciation Month, and November 11th, Veterans Day. Sometimes one of the military game companies helps to promote their donations. However, this group does not have formal support like Call of Duty Endowment. This helps veterans find good jobs and is regularly promoted within the Call of Duty game. Ubisoft, Kingsisle Entertainment and others have helped us in the past. ARMA maker Bohemia Interactive is actively working with Stack to do something this year.
Veterans often do not pay fares when it comes to charities that are deemed more urgent or appropriate, such as charities for young children.
Machuga knows diversity, equity and comprehensive program support has declined in the new administration. However, he pointed out that veteran support was not always classified as a DEI effort in the first place. Veterans are minority, often less than 1% of the US population. However, to think of veterans as valuable support, there is a different kind of way of thinking. That’s part of the reason why raising money is difficult for an organization like Stack Up.
“I’ve been working with the gaming industry for 15 years. I’m screaming, kicking, screaming, trying to support the military about veterans. “It’s a token gesture like the yellow ribbon sticker on your car.”
He appreciates the support coming, but hopes that’s more so as he sees people brightening up when he receives a PlayStation or Xbox from a group of veterans.
“In the past, we were supportive of the military, and then over the years we’ve seen it fall off a cliff that’s not there anymore,” he said.
But Machuga continues, and he is seeking help.
“No matter what, when people support the military, we appreciate it. But W still believes. My father served. I served. My whole family served. And we will be replaced by our 35-year-old son, 35-year-old son. My 35-year-old son grew up on an iPad with Minecraft,” he said. “And we know that games help people in mental health. People say they had a good time. They say, ‘Where did the time go?’ rather than staring at the ceiling all night. ”
